An Australian woman has survived a terrifying fall after her bungee cord snapped during a 111-metre (364-feet) leap off Africa’s Victoria Falls Bridge, plunging her into the crocodile-infested Zambezi River below.     

Erin Langworthy, who suffered only cuts and bruises in the fall on New Year’s Eve, according to the Sydney Morning Herald,  said it was a “miracle” that she had survived the plunge into the rapids below the bridge, which borders Zambia and Zimbabwe.      

“It felt like I had been slapped all over,” the 22-year-old from Perth told Australia’s Channel Nine television.     

Video footage showed the moment towards the end of the fall that the cord snapped and hurled her into the river.     

Langworthy had to dive under the water to unravel the rope bound around her feet as she entered the rapids.     

“I actually had to swim down and yank the bungee cord out of whatever it was caught on to make it to the surface,” she said.     

After unbinding her feet she managed to swim to the river bank on the Zimbabwe side to await assistance.     

“Yes, I think it’s definitely a miracle that I survived,” she said.     

Langworthy was treated at a nearby clinic before being evacuated to South Africa.     

A Zambian minister sought to reassure tourists about bungee safety but said the issue would be discussed with the operator.     

“The bungee has proven to be a very viable operation considering that more than 50,000 tourists jump on it every year. 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,” Information Minister Given Lubinda was quoted as saying in a report published on the Lusakatimes.com website.     

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Sat May 18 18:38:15 SAST 2013 ::

Jan 9, 2012

candilious

You are very lucky happy that you made it out with minor injuries ,
Report Abuse

Jan 9, 2012

Lekwete

Now this makes me gore stlhole ke ya bungee jumping ela ne kere ka ya
Report Abuse

Jan 9, 2012

maneater

This is the first time I am hearing of an incident. The probability of an incident is one in 500,000 jumps,” Information Minister Given Lubinda was quoted as saying
================================================================
yea right as long as ther is a probability i am not doing this shit!!!
Report Abuse

Jan 9, 2012

DJWinner

White people! Why did she do it even in the first place? This is one of the reasons black people don't do this thing. I hope she learnt a lesson.
Report Abuse

Jan 9, 2012

RobinH

DJWinner: What's with the racist remark. Surely you know that there are as many black fools as white ones that throw themselves off scaffolding in this way. Lunacy is non-racial. Your assertion that "black people don't do this thing" clearly shows how ridiculously uninformed you are.
Report Abuse

Jan 9, 2012

MabhebezaEC!

Lunitic chick!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope you learnt your lesson b!tch!!!!!!!!!!
Report Abuse

Jan 9, 2012

DJWinner

@RobinH...This is not racist, but a reality of the situation. You won't see black people throwing themselves down the valley or bridge or something. This is not racial, but a thruth.
Report Abuse

Jan 9, 2012

RobinH

DJWinner, When last did you watch TV? A "truth"? Hmmm. Your thumb-sucked truth perhaps. I think you are not very aware of what young black professionals do in their spare-time.
Report Abuse

Jan 9, 2012

nevus

I know someone who works there and bad things have been happening ever since she started working ko Vic Falls.
Report Abuse

Jan 9, 2012

LaVidaLoca

You are one lucky person......
Report Abuse

Read all 36 comments