Shocking Vid: Base Jumper Crashes in Wingsuit During Mtn. Jump…And Survives!
- Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:22am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Jeb Corliss does things you and I only dream of (and some have nightmares about). For example, he jumps off mountains wearing only a wingsuit, and then glides through the air like a bird. But sometimes, gliding turns to falling, like it did in Cape Town, South Africa, while shooting a special for HBO.
Corliss and a cameraman both jumped off table mountain in an effort to catch his “flight.” But things soon went horribly wrong. The Telegraph explains:
Jeb Corliss, 35, was being filmed by US network HBO and was performing his second jump from the Cape Town landmark when the accident happened at 10am on Monday.
A spokesman for Table Mountain, Merle Collins, said Mr Corliss was “lucky to be alive” after he fell more than 200 feet from the 3,500 foot mountain before landing on a sloped side known as Africa Face.
“He managed to release his emergency chute and we believe he would have died without it,” she said.
He was recovered from close to the base of the mountain by air ambulance and taken to a private hospital in the city where he was admitted to intensive care.
And the whole thing was caught on video:
[Content warning for graphic language]
(H/T: Business Insider)
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Comments (82)
Ralph Wylie
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 2:54pmJumping off of a perfectly good mountain……….now that’s crazy!
Report Post »ICRedifURBlue
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:43pm……..low groaning animal sounds are never good……..saying a prayer……
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:05pmglad he is “ ok ” as in not dead
now, to lighten things up…………………………..when he gets out, you can ask him what a bug feels hitting a windshield doing 55
Report Post »nyxplant
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 2:38pmDeceleration trauma.
Report Post »collectorbob810
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 1:48pmproof of gravity.
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 2:31pmIt’s not the fall that will hurt you, it’s that sudden stop at the end.
Report Post »machochris
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 12:34pmI am so glad he is OK. He is OK, right?
Report Post »burnteye86
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:37pmphysically, yeah
Report Post »sbenard
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 12:12pmIs it really worth risking one’s life for an adrenaline rush? I don’t think so! It’s a mockery of God gift of life!
Report Post »pizzacorner
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 12:30pmOthers say spending 8-10hrs a day in a cubicle farm under florescent lighting is a waste of life.
Report Post »machochris
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 12:35pmYea, dude are you sure man should fly, he has no wings. And why would we try to go to the moon?
Report Post »OneLeafTree
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 12:52pmSaying that doing dangerous sports is a slap in God’s face is understandable…but also saying that he gave us the ability, insight, and tools to perform such acts is also understandable. I guess there is only one way to know the answer to such questions. I do, however, feel that people should acknowledge our feats as humans only by his greater power…I doubt God couldn’t help but cast a smile.
Report Post »1babybogie4us
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 2:32pmWrong SBENARD. He’s celibrating life by enjoying life. Speaking of which, you need to get a life.
Report Post »v15
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:55pmIt is TOTALLY worth the risk of losing your life for an adrenaline rush. As an “adrenaline junkie,” I would try to explain it to you but, unless you are into extreme sports, you wouldn’t understand.
As far as Jeb Corliss goes, he is a total narcissistic jerk. He is the only child of a rich family that has been bent on killing himself for quite awhile. He was/is hardcore suicidal and that’s when he stumbled into base jumping with a wing suit. I’m paraphrasing, but I remember Jeb saying on camera, “If the chute opens then it was cool but if I died that would be cool, too. Either way, I win” I‘ve followed his career and I won’t shed a tear when he dies, especially since he wants to die.
Report Post »VTHS
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 12:03pmI aught not to be shocked by the negative comments posted about this accident.
People bitching about how this guy takes “unacceptable” risks should wait patiently for the nanny state to come up with a reason to ban or restrict activities that others deem too irresponsible and unsafe.
Report Post »IMAWAKENOW
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 1:17pmI don’t think we have to worry about a “nanny state” stepping in to prohibit the action of endangering yourself. All we have to do is make sure that if you do, YOU PAY for the rescue and medical bills yourself! The nanny state is what makes you think that I will pay for your stupid a$$ hurting yourself through irresponsible acts.
Report Post »K Chad Roberts
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 2:45pmFreedom trumps all. If they want to do this, risking their own life, so be it. They must pay for that helicopter though.
Report Post »navydoc2008
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 3:05pmI dont think we should restrict what people want to do, but they should not expect that the helicopter will come either. He may never be able to pay for the helicopter, after a crash like that. Therefore, everyone who took part in that venture should be on the hook for it.
Report Post »ha99yhack3r
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:19pmIf you read the story it was being filmed for HBO by HBO I’m sure the Heli ride was paid for by someone other than me.
Report Post »caligulaboy
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:52amHilarious! Do stupid stuff and at some point it’ll bite you in the butt. He’s just lucky to have made it.
Report Post »mawmawsandra
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 1:49pmI don’t think luck had anything to do with it, I think God had everything to do with saving his butt.
Report Post »Espada
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 12:39pmNo, MawMaw, what saved his life was his reserve parachute.
Report Post »mikiegro
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:33amHold my beer, I got this.
Report Post »bjornskis
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:18amsame thing with the guys that go rock climbing with out a rope ( free climbing ) you know to get a better rush
Usually the obituaries read he died doing what he or she enjoyed and left a wife and two young children.
Idiots
Report Post »D-Fence
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:23amThere is also something called the Darwin Awards.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 1:54pmDon’t say Darwin around here. You’re likely to get feces thrown on you.
Report Post »Halloween
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 2:41pmThat’s the problem with this web site, it is full of pompous Christian types that want you to think the way they do or you are attacked. Christians are very intolerant if you don’t believe what they believe.
Report Post »qzak491
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 10:06amROWGUE AND HALLOWEEN
Compared to what the left wing nutcases, the atheists, the FFRF, and the Moslems are doing to Christians, I don’t think what we do can be described as an attack. Unlike these other groups that insist and try to force their beliefs on us all we have to do is present the Gospels and it’s up to you if you believe or not. We can lead you to the water but we don’t try to make you drink.
Report Post »Cabo King
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:15amhe needs to pay form the rescue
Report Post »22hornet
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:19pmI am sure he will. Look him up on youtube.. He has done a lot of jumps and has sponsors like red bull
Report Post »flyoverbob
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:04amBe as fearless as you want,but take responsibility too.Who do you think pays for that rescue?
Report Post »NoNannyState4me
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:17amObamacare / Insurance / You
Report Post »Brents Torts
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:21amThe insurance policy that HBO bought to cover the shoot. Do a little thinking before you open your trap again.
Report Post »RightThinking1
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 10:56amAnother example of someone overtly, and by choice, doing something stupid and reaping the reward. When someones ego causes them to engage high risk behavior, there should be no surprise when it ends badly. This does not fall in the category of an accident. The guy is now using up resources that might be devoted to innocent victims. I am sorry that he is injured, but I have no sympathy for him.
Report Post »Firefighter 538
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 10:50amKilling yourself by crashing into the dirt at terminal velocity is a personal life style choice.
Report Post »jonnydoe
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 2:41pmLifestyle choice? You sure he wasn’t “born that way” lol?
Report Post »TROONORTH
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 10:12amSometimes jumping off a mountain in a bat suit is not pushing the envelope. Sometimes it is just stupid.
This was stupid.
Report Post »SDMF
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 10:25amOf course when his other video of him successfully flying down was posted you were probably one of the people saying how amazing it was and how it shows the awesome determination and audacity of the human spirit. He crashes however and you call him stupid. How dare he go outside of his house and take some risks to live an exciting life.
Report Post »TheLeftMadeMeRight
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 4:26pmAh……no, jumping off a cliff in a bat suit is really stupid, whether you crash or not.
Report Post »TROONORTH
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:50pmNo SDMF, I have a healthy respect for gravity and a healthy disrespect for stupidity, which of course would include you.
Report Post »bill984
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 10:03amHe lived, see every once in a while darwin is wrong.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 2:53pmHe hasn’t retired from mountain jumping. Give it a chance, that law is still in effect.
Report Post »linearnonlinear
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:43amHey Rocky Watch me pull a Rabbit out of my hat !
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 11:17am(Rocky) “AGAIN?”
Report Post »(Bullwinkle) “Nothing up my sleeve” ROAR…”Musta got the wrong hat!”
(Rocky) “And now here‘s something we hope you’ll really like.”
Tri-ox
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:46amLOL – gravity!
Report Post »PPMStudios
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:24amGravity is a myth. The Earth sucks!
Report Post »Phoenix5
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:46amThis was anticipated. I’m glad he survived but after seeing one of his previous videos you knew it was coming. Its an awesome video, but he should have quit while he was ahead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWfph3iNC-k
Report Post »Tepeyac
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:35amHe should quit while he has a head and it’s not splattered all over the rocks!
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:21am.
Jeb Corliss does things you and I only dream of …….
I Dream about alot of Stuff, but Strap’in on a Pair of Wings and Jumping Off a Mtn. ain’t one of them…..
FYI, the reason you Crashed is you forgot to Shove a Handful of Feathers Up your Behind. Everybody knows you need a Rudder Duh!!!…………
Report Post »Gzeee1969
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 10:52amHa!!!! It’s not the fall that kills ya…!
Report Post »EchoHawk
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 12:20pm“Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken”. Tyler Durden Fight Club.
Report Post »coffeeking425
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:06amIf I remember correctly that jet powered wing only does about 150mph. These guys push just over a 100… they are definitely the more reckless of the two I’d say. Not that either don’t deserve the credit of having some seriously big ….. fan bases.
Report Post »ItTakesFaith
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:34amThe speed of “Jetman/FusionMan” was clocked at 186mph (299kph). What he is able to do with the things (and at crazy altitude!): barrel rolls, figure-eights, etc; all while flying over the Swiss Alps or the Grand Canyon… that is what makes his feats so incredible! This link [http://www.ted.com/talks/yves_rossy_fly_with_the_jetman.html] shows not only his flying, but the wind tunnel testing & entire process of getting him to where he is now able to fly. Definitely more science/physics than the guys in this Blaze story wearing capes and thermal underwear (so to speak!)…
Report Post »ItTakesFaith
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:56amThe arm strength required to keep the “wing” taunt, and thereby a working air foil (necessary for flight!), would seem to be the most difficult challenge for the human flier. I can only imagine the G-forces exerted on him as he attempts to maneuver over the various rock outcroppings…
I have seen some pretty amazing video of an even crazier variant on the human flight quest, in the form of a human jet, who powers himself at truly breakneck speed with fixed wing contraptions, before parachuting to safety. He even files alongside jets over relatively great distances before bailing out… amazing!
So, the dream of flight is alive. In the case of this poor soul, though, just barely…
Report Post »ItTakesFaith
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 8:03amYves Rossy is the “human jet”, profiled here in his TED talk, with some truly breathtaking video: http://www.ted.com/speakers/yves_rossy.html
Report Post »ItTakesFaith
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:46amSo since jumping off of my roof with a superhero winged cape is a bad idea… “me thinks” jumping off of A MOUNTAIN with said equipment is an even worse idea…!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:53amYou were a kid when you jumped off your roof (I assume), grown men should know better.
Report Post »PimpleJuice
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:43amvideo sucked
Report Post »Gumbercules
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 1:13amActually it was quite entertaining. I loved how he skipped like a rock on water!
Report Post »ThePostman
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:41amThe holy grail of wingsuit flying is to make a landing without a parachute. Looks like this may qualify as a first attempt, though not intended, and a pretty big fail.
Report Post »Scooder
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 12:37pmYeah, I think there’s a few bugs to work out on the landing part of that stunt.
Report Post »ThePostman
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 7:34amGuess he really ground the crack that day. Of well, we all saw this coming, but it is a miracle that he survived, hope he’s still in one piece.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWfph3iNC-k
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