Something that made me laugh.

An Australian woman whose bungee jumping cord snapped, plunging her head-first into raging crocodile-infested waters in Africa's Zambezi River, has described her "miracle" survival.
She managed to swim to the Zimbabwe side of the river, where she hauled herself out.

The Lusaka Times quoted Zambian Tourism Minister Given Lubinda as assuring tourists the bungee jumping equipment was safe, despite the incident. "The bungee has proven to be a very viable operation considering that more than 50 000 tourists jump on it every year," he said. "It has been in operation for 10 years. This is the first time I am hearing of an incident. The probability of an incident is one in 500 000 jumps."

http://youtu.be/GrPmJ4NXVDQ

That company's out of business! Or maybe now is the time to cash in on some SERIOUS discounts

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Chuck Norris wears Ueli Steck pyjamas

Having done that jump twice before, she is extremely lucky to have had enough water to cover the rocks. That's only eight lives left for her...

CNN report on the Bungee cord that snapped... "Attempts to contact the bungee company have been unsuccessful, but in an online statement it maintains that their operations are safe and that the broken equipment has been replaced."



Safety Issues
50,000 people make the leap each year from Vic Falls Bridge and in 10 years there has only been one incident and that was neither fatal or even resulted in any broken bones.
The probability of an incident is one in 500,000 jumps

Bungee snaps over Zambezi River - from the operations company
We wish to advise that on the 31st of December 2011 at about 17.30 hours there was an incident
at the Victoria Falls Bridge whereby a bungee cord broke which resulted in a tourist from
Australia falling into the water from a height of approximately 20 metres. The lady was able to
swim to the Zimbabwe side of the river and was then rescued by the bridge crew and a local
medical response team. She sustained relatively minor injuries, mostly bruising and has no
broken bones. She is comfortable and recovering well having remained in hospital overnight for
observation.
The cause of the incident is being thoroughly investigated, a process we expect to take
at least 24 hours. During this period the Bridge Swing, Bridge Slide and Bridge Tour shall
continue operating as normal. We expect to recommence Bungee Jumping operations on the
2nd January 2012.

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Climb ZA - Administrator

You would hope so. Can't see many people being that keen on having a go if it wasn't replaced!

I just googled what a bungi jump costs at vic falls. R880. Now the article says that
50 000 people do this each year. That means a yearly income of R44 Million Rand.
But it also means that 137 people are jumping each day of the year. Unlikely I think,
because if those numbers are correct, then:
- I'm in the wrong business
- They sure as hell can afford buying new gear that doesn't break every now and then

50 000 people around the world perhaps?

Long ago a friend and I drove up to go meet the bungy guys at Gouritz regarding a possible job, a week or two prior they had been busy setting up the Bloukraans jump.

Over a few beers we got some insight into just how these things are done
Calculations had been made: 80Kg sandbag, 'X' amount of bungy cord for 216 meters and off goes the sandbag!! They watch, the sandbag continues downward.... and boom!!!! An explosion of sand! The guys look around to see if anyone has been watching?
"Ok, pull up a few meters of cord for the next test"

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Climb ZA - Administrator

A Zimbabwean tourism company has suspended bungee jumps at Victoria Falls while they investigate an accident in which a tourist plunged into the Zambezi River

A comment from the story above:
"...the probability of an accident was one in 50,000 jumps a year". Well which one is it? 1 in 50 000 or one a year?

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Climb ZA - Administrator