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[WATCH] Tourists Survives Bungee Jump in Thailand After Cord Snaps
A man from Hong Kong has survived a near-death experience after his bungee cord snapping during a bungee jump in Pattaya, Thailand. Footage of the terrifying ordeal went viral this week after the 39-year-old Hong Kong tourist told his story publicly.
To avoid online harassment, the tourist, who asked to be identified only by his first name Mike, performed a swan dive off a 10-story-high podium in the Thai town of Pattaya in January of this year.
Fortunately, the jump took place over water. Mike was slammed into the water below as the bungee cord snapped milliseconds before he reached the bottom of his jump.
“I landed on my left side, so the injuries were more severe there,” Mike explained to CNN, describing how he was covered in bruises. “It was as if someone had just brutally beaten me.”
Friends who were with him at the Changthai Thappraya Safari and Adventure Park witnessed his plunge. The amusement park, located northwest of Pattaya, offers activities ranging from ziplines to live-round shooting.
Mike said he went to the park to try out the firing range, but after his friends dared him, he plucked up the courage to do a bungee jump.
“Because it was so high, I closed my eyes.” I planned to open my eyes again when I bounced back up,” said Mike. “When I opened my eyes and found myself surrounded by water, I realized the bungee cord had snapped.”
Despite his feet being tied together by the lower half of the snapped bungee cord, he managed to resurface and swim.
“If the person does not know how to swim, he or she will be in a lot of trouble,” he warned.
Mike stated that the park reimbursed him for his jump and paid for x-ray and ultrasound scans in Thailand.
The park’s founder, Nithit Intim, confirmed the incident and stated that it was the first time he had seen a cord snap.
“After the cord was broken, our staff immediately pulled him [mike] out of the water and asked him if he was okay,” he told CNN. “He [Mike] stated that he was bruised. As a result, we took him to the hospital.”
Mike, according to Intim, signed a liability waiver before jumping. He also sent a photo of what he claimed was the signed waiver, as well as copies of the Thai medical bills.
“Our staff explained that if a mishap or accident occurs, our company will pay for medical bills.” “However, the client cannot seek compensation for other types of expenses,” Intim explained.
He added that if receipts were provided, the park would be willing to pay any additional direct medical expenses in Hong Kong.
