Erin (center) decided to do the bungee jump @trawelltagcover-more1631 / YouTube
“It’s not how far you fall, but how high you bounce that counts.” ~Zig Ziglar
What would you do if your bungee cord snapped mid-jump?
In this episode of Believe It or Not, She Fell 365 Feet… and Lived | The Shocking True Bungee Survival Story: we tell the incredible true survival story of Erin Langworthy, a 22-year-old student who fell 365 feet from Victoria Falls Bridge after her bungee cord broke — and survived. She hit the Zambezi River. She was tangled in rope. She had a broken collarbone. And she had to swim to safety in crocodile territory.
Learning: • How fast a 365-foot fall really is • Why water can feel like concrete at high speeds • The science of impact survival • How staying calm can save your life • And the unbelievable reason she says she would bungee jump again, Because she refuses to allow fear define her life.
— A woman fell 360 feet into crocodile-infested waters after her bungee cord snapped.
— Bungee jumping is on countless lifelong bucket lists, with many people dreaming of that exhilarating moment of freedom.
— But it also shows up just as often on the ‘absolutely never’ lists – and the story below may help explain why.
Where did Erin Langworthy do her bungee jump?
On December 31, 2011, 22-year-old Australian tourist Erin Langworthy stepped off the 365-foot Victoria Falls Bridge for what was supposed to be an unforgettable bungee jump. But when her cord suddenly snapped, she plunged headfirst into the crocodile-inhabited Zambezi River, briefly losing consciousness after hitting the water.
Australian traveler Erin Langworthy was exploring Zambia when she decided to take on the challenge of bungee jumping from a bridge, which overlooked the Zambezi River, known for its strong currents and crocodile population.
What was supposed to be a thrilling experience took a terrifying turn when her bungee cord snapped mid-air, sending her plummeting into the rushing waters below.
With her legs still attached to the broken cord, Erin was repeatedly pulled underwater as the rope became caught on rocks and powerful rapids threatened to sweep her away.
Despite suffering a fractured collarbone, bruising, and lung injuries, she managed to free herself and reach the riverbank in a remarkable escape captured on camera.
Footage shared on social media captured the moment Langworthy plunged into the water after the cord gave way.
The woman fell 360ft into crocodile-infested waters when her bungee cord snapped. Credit: Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Travel
Struggling against the powerful current, Langworthy fought to stay afloat as the river carried her downstream.
The fateful day…
But Langworthy could have never imagined the catastrophic event that unfolded the very next day. Despite being a fearful thought for many, over two million individuals have performed bungee jumps in total since the sport’s inception.
The desire for an adrenaline rush is a major motivation for travel, and bungee jumping is a prime example of this trend. And contrary to what most people might believe, the data suggests that women are slightly more likely to try bungee jumping than men.
Miraculously, Langworthy survived her fall, as well as the potential threat of lurking predators.
Erin Langworthy: ‘If I had been over land, I’d have been dead. Luckily, it had rained the day before, so the river was turbulent and full.’ Photograph: Ross Wallace for the Guardian
Experience: my bungee cord snapped | Extreme sports holidays | The Guardian
Zimbabwe suspends bungee jumps at Victoria Falls after Erin Langworthy’s 111-metre plunge | National Post
Speaking about her injuries in a Cover-More Youtube video,
Langworthy recalled: “I was black and blue all over, my lungs were full of blood and water.” She reportedly had to swim with her feet tied together, and was able to free the cord when it got caught on rocks. A staff member from the bungee company managed to rescue her from the river, after which she was rushed straight to a hospital in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Despite Langworthy’s fall occurring at 5:30 p.m., she only arrived at the hospital by 11:00 p.m., where she was placed on a ventilator and administered antibiotics to prevent infection.
What injuries did she sustain?
Medical professionals treated the young woman for injuries, such as partially collapsed lungs, and monitored her condition due to concerns over the contaminated water she had ingested.
Fortunately, X-ray results confirmed that she had not suffered any broken bones.
Erin Langworthy miraculously survived the fall and the potential threat of lurking predators. Credit: Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Travel
In an interview with The Guardian, Langworthy recalled: “I started coughing up blood and began to worry about internal injuries. I just felt exhausted and struggled to process what had happened.”
The bungee company later visited the woman in the hospital to apologize for the accident and expressed astonishment that she had survived such a dangerous incident.
What is the likelihood of surviving a bungee jump cord snap?
According to experts, the likelihood of surviving a bungee jump cord snap is extremely low due to the direct impact with the ground.
Modern bungee jumping has a very low fatality rate – about 1 in 500,000 jumps – but these odds are for the sport as a whole, not specifically for a cord snap.
The low overall fatality rate is a testament to the industry’s strict safety precautions, including equipment inspection and fully-trained staff.
Erin Langworthy fought for her life for 6 hours on the floor of the Zimbabwe jungle after a devastating drop into crocodile-infested waters while her limbs were tied together. This is her miraculous and treacherous story. The Treacherous Vacation Story of Erin Langworthy | Spooky Journaling
The Horrifying Fall
Image Credit: Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
A video capturing the incident shows the terrifying moment Langworthy hit the water with immense force. The Zambezi River, known for its fast-moving currents and crocodile inhabitants, presented immediate dangers beyond her injuries.
Langworthy later described the bungee jumping moment in an interview, saying, “I was completely black and blue, my lungs were filled with blood and water.” The impact left her disoriented, yet she summoned the strength to stay afloat as the river carried her downstream.
The Fight for Survival
Battling the river’s current, so badly injured, Erin faced a dire situation. Her internal injuries included partially collapsed lungs, and she risked severe infection from the dirty river water she had swallowed. Miraculously, a staff member from the bungee company rushed to her rescue, pulling her from the crocodile-laden waters.
“I just felt drained, like I couldn’t comprehend what had just happened,” Langworthy later reflected.
Read More: Teen Almost Dead After Phone Charger Accident Leaves His Neck Scarred With 4th Degree Burns
The Road to Recovery After Her Bungee Jumping Incident
Image Credit: Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Erin was immediately transported to the hospital in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Their medical team worked for hours to stabilize her. Miraculously, though her lungs were badly damaged, x-rays showed that she had not broken any bones. After such a high fall, this was extremely lucky of her.
Doctors were more concerned about severe infection, given her injuries and the water she was washed away in. “Coughing up blood was terrifying,” Langworthy recounted, underscoring the severity of her injuries and the exhaustion from the ordeal. The long journey to the hospital—lasting nearly six hours—only added to her distress.
The Aftermath and Reflection
Image Credit: Pexels
The bungee company’s representatives later visited Langworthy in the hospital to apologize, expressing their shock and disbelief at her survival. Falling from such a height into crocodile-infested waters should have ended in tragedy, yet Langworthy defied the odds. Her story became an inspiration, a testament to human resilience in the face of life-threatening danger.
A Grim Coincidence Just Days Before The Bungee Jump
Image Credit: Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
In a twist of irony, just a day before her jump, Langworthy had jokingly written on a postcard to her mother, “I’m going bungee jumping tomorrow, so I’ll say goodbye now… only kidding!”
Prior to the jump, Langworthy noted that she had jokingly sent a postcard to her mother the day before, in which she wrote: “I’m doing a bungee jump tomorrow, so I’ll say goodbye… only joking!”
The postcard has since become a treasured keepsake in her family’s home, reminding them all of how she was so close to death that day. Her mother has since made it clear that she will never be attempting such a stunt again, tempting fate.
A Miraculous Survival
Erin Langworthy’s survival is nothing short of miraculous.
Erin Langworthy’s survival is nothing short of miraculous. Image Credit: Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
She was treated for her injuries, which included partially collapsed lungs and concerns about the dirty water she had swallowed. Thankfully, X-rays confirmed there were no broken bones.
Langworthy later told the Guardian: ‘I started coughing up blood and began to worry about internal injuries. I just felt exhausted and struggled to process what had happened.”
She revealed how, despite jumping from the river at 5.30pm, she finally arrived at the hospital at 11pm, where she was placed on a ventilator and given antibiotics due to the risk of infection from ingested water.
The bungee company later visited her in the hospital to apologise for the incident, adding that they were ‘astounded’ she had survived.
Langworthy also mentioned that she had jokingly sent a postcard to her mother the day before the jump, in which she wrote: ‘I’m doing a bungee jump tomorrow, so I’ll say goodbye… only joking!’
The postcard has since earned a prized spot on the family’s fridge, but Langworthy insisted her mother is ‘adamant’ that her beloved daughter won’t be thrill-seeking any time soon.
It comes after a woman plunged a staggering 141 feet in an extreme new style of bungee jumping where adrenaline junkies spiral out of the sky – with no rope.
Nervously getting into the correct harness position, the woman is captured in a video pushed just outside of the platform with her legs dangling mid-air.
Despite the terrifying ordeal and significant injuries, she emerged with a story that serves as both a cautionary tale and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. For thrill-seekers worldwide, her experience is a stark reminder that while the pursuit of adrenaline is exhilarating, it comes with real risks that can change lives in an instant.
Australian woman survives 111m bungee fall into the Zambezi River