Bungee jumping has long been a well-liked extreme activity, especially among young people who travel overseas. How many reported deaths have there truly been from bungee jumping, despite the numerous high-profile media claims over the past few years?
How many fatalities were caused by bungee jumping? Between 1986 and 2002, 18 bungee jumping fatalities were officially documented. Five bungee jumping fatalities were reported between 2015 and 2018 in more recent years. According to statistics, there is a 1 in 500,000 probability of dying while bungee jumping.
Average Bungee Jumping Deaths Per Year
Only data from 1986 to 2002 and then 2015 to 2018 were available to me when I searched for information on the number of fatalities associated with bungee jumping. Based on it, I discovered the following data for fatalities since the invention of bungee jumping.
- 16 years, from 1986 to 2002, saw 18 fatalities
- Five fatalities occurred between 2015 and 2018
If you multiply those fatalities by the number of years they occurred, you get 23 fatalities in 20 years. Therefore, the average number of bungee jumping fatalities that are publicized in the media each year is 1.15.
What Are The Chances of Dying When Bungee Jumping?
Media coverage of bungee jumping has been very consistent, especially in light of some of the unfortunate deaths that have been reported since 2015. (you can see examples of those lower down the page).
The facts, however, actually paint a rather different picture; the likelihood of dying is only 2 in 1,000,000. Below are some data that show how that compares to other activities like driving:
- One in 500,000 people who bungee jump will die.
- The likelihood of passing away while driving is one in 20,000.
Bungee jumping is actually fairly safe as long as it’s done properly. Human mistake will be the major factor in mortality.
Statistics On Bungee Jumping Deaths
1. Only 18 confirmed fatalities from bungee jumping occurred between 1986 and 2002.
2. There is a 1:500,000 chance of being hurt while bungee jumping.
3. In the United States, one bungee jump is about equivalent to 100 miles of driving.
4. Driving at speeds of more than 100 mph increases the risk of mortality more than bungee jumping does.
5. The leading cause of bungee jumping fatalities is human error.
6. For a bungee jump, cords might be over 1,000 feet long.
7. The 764-foot jump from China’s Macau Tower was the highest commercial bungee jump ever.
8. In 1978, the Clifton Suspension Bridge in England was the site of the first bungee jump.
9. In 2002, the biggest bungee leap ever completed was seen in the James Bond film Golden Eye. It won the award for greatest stunt of all time.
10. In 1991, Andrew Salisbury successfully executed a bungee leap from a helicopter above Cancun, Mexico, plummeting 3,157 feet.
11. Different cords are used by bungee operators in different parts of the world, such as in the southern hemisphere, where a less braided cord provides a longer, gentler bounce.
12. In 2003, while on vacation in Uganda, Prince William and his buddy Guy Pelly completed a tandem bungee leap over the River Nile.
13. Dislocations, rope burns, back injuries, and eye damage have all been frequent injuries.
14. The only regular bridge jump in the UK is from the 170-foot Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge.
15. In Pucon, Chile, it is possible to bungee leap into a volcano for $10,000.
16. In South Africa, 100-foot jumper Carl Dionisio utilized condoms for his bungee rope.
17. Regardless of the severity rating, the predicted chance of any injury from BASE jumping is 0.4-0.5%.
18. In terms of bungee jumping injuries and fatalities, men dominate women by a 10:1 ratio.
19. In bungee jumping fatalities and injury mishaps, the age of the victims is usually reported to range between 30 and 40 years old.
Risk Of Accident Or Death
Any time someone chooses to leap from a height, there is a chance that they may get hurt. Despite this, there have been millions of successful bungee jumps, in part because the rules and safety requirements for this activity are strictly adhered to. Jumpers are meticulous in checking and double-checking the fittings for each leap.
Accidents will occur despite everyone’s best attempts to prevent them. Sometimes these mishaps even cause major injuries or fatalities. The cable being overly long is the most frequent cause of accidents for bungee jumpers. This occurs when the jumper doesn’t give their court enough room to expand as it absorbs the energy from the jump. A probable disaster and ground impact ensue from this. Accidental separation of ankle straps has also been a frequent cause of accidents.
But given the nature of the sport’s action, bungee jumping turns out to be a pretty safe activity, as the statistics shall demonstrate. Although not everyone may appreciate this intense kind of amusement, there may not be a riskier method for someone to experience the sensation of flying, even for a short while.
Common Questions And Concerns
Risk exists in all sports. The way that risk is handled will either affect accident rates or result in a pleasant and secure experience. The majority of bungee jumpers enjoy themselves and do so in safety.
You have a few things you should ask yourself before bungee jumping for the first time. Why you first wanted to do it is the first step. You can decide whether to employ a commercial crane or make a private jump from a bridge or other stationary object by answering this question. If this is your first time, it’s critical that you decide against jumping alone. To ensure that a leap is accomplished safely, even veteran jumpers will have backup.
Bungee jumpers can also adopt a number of stances. Since the swan dive technique is the traditional bungee jumping experience, many first-time jumpers prefer to employ it. Some operators employ an even riskier form of bungee jumping that, thanks to accurately calculated energy from the leap, enables a jumper to touch the ocean from a plunge. Whatever the situation, being aware of what to anticipate from your leap before it happens is essential to its success.
It’s also crucial to understand how you’ll be picked up following the leap. You don’t want to spend a lot of time hanging upside down on the cord. After a jump is complete, the majority of outfits will lower a second rope to your harness so you may be hauled back up. Some people could decide to lower you all the way to the ground. Given that the second alternative is the riskiest, understanding what is in store ahead will enable you to better organize your preparation.
You can’t deny the exhilaration that bungee jumping can deliver for less than $100. There aren’t many safer alternatives that can give you the same adrenaline as this extreme activity does, which has an average of one fatality every year.
What Bungee Jumping Does To Your Body?
But there is no denying that bungee jumping causes a number of major medical issues, such as headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, and musculoskeletal discomfort in the neck and back1. Thankfully, the majority of these symptoms go away on their own, but there are reports of much more extreme and uncommon illnesses.
Can A Bungee Cord Break?
Even with regular usage, bungee cords ultimately get permanently stretched, frayed, or snap due to exposure to sunlight, wind, rain, and extremely cold or hot conditions. Even with occasional use, bungees should be changed at least once a year.
How Fast Do You Fall Bungee Jumping?
The jumper is falling freely between 2.5 and 4.5 seconds, accelerating at around -9.8 m/s2. The acceleration starts to vary after the bungee cord has lost all of its slack. The jumper experiences an upward push as the bungee cord extends.
Should You Bungee Jump?
Although it may sound corny, bungee jumping has been proven to make you feel genuinely “alive.” You will experience a natural high from the endorphins and adrenaline that will make you feel more alive than you have ever felt, and you’ll probably start thinking about your next bungee jump.
Who Can Bungee Jump?
Anyone over the age of sixteen may bungee jump, and no prior experience is necessary. You simply go to enjoy it; you don’t purchase any equipment. The most important aspect of bungee jumping is having the confidence to do it.
Can You Eat Before Bungee Jumping?
It is strongly advised not to eat just before bungee jumping, and especially not to have a big meal before it, as clearly, you don’t want to be vomiting up mid-air. Taking the leap will have an influence on your body because you will drop head down and will bounce around for a little at the end.
How Much Can A Bungee Cord Stretch?
Unlike elastic cord, which can stretch to 1.5 times its original length, shock cord has a 100% elongation or may be stretched to double that length.
What It Feels Like To Bungee Jump?
That “fall” usually seems more like a flight than a down. However, bungee jumping will give you that sinking-stomach sensation and will feel like a fall. In a matter of seconds, everything is over, and you sort of dangle or hang there before being brought to the earth.
How Fast Do You Fall When Bungee Jumping?
The jumper is falling freely between 2.5 and 4.5 seconds, accelerating at around -9.8 m/s2. The acceleration starts to vary after the bungee cord has lost all of its slack. The jumper experiences an upward push as the bungee cord extends.
How Much Should You Weigh To Bungee Jump?
The bungee leap is open to individuals weighing up to kilos, although tandem jumps are not permitted. The jump is around 50 meters high, which is enough high for thrill-seekers!
Does Bungee Jumping Make You Lose Weight?
Your body weight will be lessened by the bungee cord, making the exercises simpler. The goal of the exercise is to include a weight-bearing bungee cord with quick, explosive motions (such as leaping or running). It’s undoubtedly one of the most unusual exercises out there!
Does Bungee Jumping Have A Weight Limit?
Weights: Although regulations varies for various bungees, the standard minimum weight for bungee jumping is 35″40 kg. Again, the maximum weight varies depending on the venue, but it is often between 145 and 150 kg.
How Far Will A 12 Inch Bungee Cord Stretch?
Six feet can be reached using a 12-inch SuperBungee Cord! (The majority of standard 12-inch bungee cords barely extend around 12 inches). Consider the possibilities for tie-downs given that a 32-inch SuperBungee Cord stretches to a length of 15 feet!
