‘I’m Dead! Bye!’ : Skydiver Films His Own 15,000 Ft. Free Fall

[The Seeker]

Five years ago, New Zealand skydiver Michael Holmes jumped out of an airplane with a parachute attached to his back. The air whipped over his body as gravity pulled him to the ground in an exhilarating, controlled fall. At 15,000 ft. above ground, he pulled his parachute. And that’s when an awesome jump turned to awful.


At that moment, Holmes’s parachute malfunctioned. He started an incredible free fall traveling at an extreme rate of speed and headed for some vegetation. Eventually, he crashed. And survived.


The entire incident was caught on a helmet camera, where Holmes can be heard declaring “I’m dead!“ and â€Bye!â€:

Video Link

Incredibly, Holmes suffered nothing more than a couple broken bones. Consequently, his story was featured on the National Geographic show “The Indestructibles†on Sunday. The show looks at miraculous survival stories, and examined how it was possible for Holmes to survive.

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In an Q&A with National Geographic, Holmes said a design flaw in the parachute caused it to malfunction. He also said he never considered not skydiving again.​

“It’s my life, it’s what I love, and I can’t imagine not doing it,†he explained. “If you have a car crash, most people will still drive again. Skydiving again to me is no different from driving againâ€

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The show will air again on July 21 on the NatGeo channel at 10 pm ET.​

 

[shanered6]

he had a lot of luck on his side,incredible story but very scary at the same time.

 

[Rocky]

That is waaaaay beyond lucky.

 

[DaveM]

Man it sure was not his time

 

[dazco]

Not to suggest it wasn't a serious fall, but with the chute partially working like that i'm sure thats what saved him. Had he just plummeted at the speed a body with no chute would he'd have no doubt just ended up a pile of bloody meat. H probably hit at 25 or 30 MPH verses the 120 he'd have been going otherwise. Still a heck of an impact, but far from what 120 MPH would do.

 

[DaveM]

and this is why I don't jump out of a perfectly working aeroplane

 

[Rocky]

and this is why I don't jump out of a perfectly working aeroplane

And I'll be right behind you.....not jumping out

 

[shanered6]

And I'll be right behind you.....not jumping out

+3 to crash in the plane

 

[dazco]

I can throw ya all one better....i won't even get in a plane to begin with !

 

[CarlS]

Man it sure was not his time

That is for sure!!!

and this is why I don't jump out of a perfectly working aeroplane

Statistically, you are safe jumping out than landing with the aircraft.

 

[DaveM]

That is what they say but I will just take my chances and stay inside

 

[CarlS]

 

[DaveM]

That's me

 

[CarlS]