Imagine standing atop the world’s tallest skyscraper, looking down, and knowing that a fall would almost certainly be fatal. Yet, against all odds, some individuals have defied gravity and survived falls from extreme heights. These aren’t just lucky incidents; they’re incredible stories of resilience and chance. Here are ten more accounts of people who plummeted from the sky and lived to tell the tale.
10. Christine McKenzie
In 2004, Christine McKenzie, a seasoned skydiver from South Africa, was performing her 112th jump in Johannesburg. She attempted a new sitting position jump, which increased her freefall speed. Jumping from 11,000 feet (3,353 meters), she planned to deploy her parachute at 6,000 feet (1,828 meters). However, this time, her main parachute failed to open. Quickly deploying her reserve chute, she encountered another problem: the two chutes tangled, lines snapped, and she spun uncontrollably.
As she fell, Christine thought of her family, bracing for the worst. Remarkably, she crashed into live power lines, which broke her fall before she hit the ground. She suffered a broken pelvis and severe bruising but remained conscious. A passerby spotted her descent and called for help.
Christine made a full recovery but requested her honeymoon be changed from adventurous skydiving and shark cage-diving to something less terrifying. [1]
9. Emma Carey
In 2013, Emma Carey, a 20-year-old from Australia, was on a European holiday when she went skydiving over the Swiss Alps. Excited about the jump from 14,000 feet (4,267 meters), she felt no nervousness. However, after the parachute deployed, she sensed something was wrong. She wasn’t slowing down.
The instructor strapped to her back was unresponsive. Emma discovered that both the main and reserve parachutes had tangled around his neck, rendering him unconscious. Moments later, they hit the ground. Emma’s body broke the instructor’s fall. She suffered a shattered pelvis, a broken back, sacrum, and jaw, and lost many teeth but remained conscious.
Despite being told she might never walk again, Emma made an incredible recovery, becoming a social media personality. Through physiotherapy, she regained her ability to walk, though she still deals with medical issues related to her injuries. [2]
8. Craig Stapleton
Craig Stapleton, a 51-year-old veteran skydiver, jumped from 8,000 feet (2,438 meters) to practice a stunt with an American flag. His leg became stuck, sending him spinning. He deployed his backup chute, but it only tangled further, convincing him of his imminent death.
Fortunately, the failed parachutes slowed him to about 30mph (48 km/h) before he crashed into a freshly plowed vineyard at an angle that softened the impact. He suffered only a dislocated shoulder and some bruises. A cameraman captured the entire incident on video. [3]
7. Elijah Arranz
Elijah Arranz, just 14, made his first skydive in a tandem jump with 44-year-old instructor Tony Rokov from 5,000 feet (1,524 meters). The jump proceeded as planned until they were only 66 feet (20 meters) from the ground when a sudden gust of wind collapsed their parachute.
Tony Rokov acted selflessly, wrapping his legs and arms around Elijah to absorb the impact. This act of bravery likely saved Elijah’s life but contributed to Tony’s death.
Elijah suffered severe injuries that initially confined him to a wheelchair and impaired his speech. He has since made a remarkable recovery, attributing it to physiotherapy and his gratitude to Tony. [4]
6. Carol Murray Rodriguez
In September 1997, 24-year-old Carol Murray Rodriguez, with only four hours of skydiving training, jumped solo from 3,200 feet (975 meters). Just seconds into her descent, a gust of wind collapsed her parachute, causing her to spin out of control.
Like others, she deployed her reserve chute, leading to a tangle that sent her plummeting at over 56 mph (90 km/h) into someone’s front garden.
She sustained multiple severe injuries, including a broken femur, punctured lung, broken pelvis, and broken ribs. The worst was a compound fracture of her right femur, which pierced through her thigh and embedded itself in the ground. Carol has undergone over 25 surgeries since her accident and continues to deal with long-term issues. [5]
5. Victoria Cilliers
In April 2015, experienced skydiving instructor Victoria Cilliers, after being grounded due to pregnancy, was gifted a parachute jump by her husband, Emile. The jump took place at Netheravon Airfield in Wiltshire, England. Due to weather, the jump was from a low altitude of 4,000 feet (1,219 meters).
As Victoria jumped, her parachute failed to deploy, and she crashed into a freshly plowed field at over 60 mph (96 km/h). Miraculously, she was alive but suffered a broken spine, shattered pelvis, and fractured ribs. The parachute was strangely knotted and missing soft links.
A two-year investigation revealed that her husband, Emile, had sabotaged her parachute. He was also found to have attempted to kill her earlier by leaving the gas on. He was sentenced to life in prison. Initially, Victoria did not accept the verdict but later acknowledged his guilt after learning about his affairs and mounting debts. [6]
4. Nicholas Alkemade
Nicholas Alkemade served as a rear gunner on an RAF Lancaster Bomber during World War II. On March 24, 1944, his bomber was attacked over Germany. Ordered to bail out, Nicholas found his parachute ablaze.
Faced with staying in a burning plane or jumping without a parachute from 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) high, he chose to jump. The plane exploded above him, and Nicholas lost consciousness.
He woke up in a pine forest, suffering only burns, a twisted knee, and some bruising. His boots had disappeared. German civilians discovered him and took him to a hospital. Initially accused of being a spy, evidence from the crash site corroborated his story. Nicholas became a minor celebrity in the Stalag Lufeet III Prisoner of War camp. [7]
3. Ivan Chisov
Colonel Ivan Chisov, a Russian Red Air Force navigator, was attacked by German fighter planes during WWII. He bailed out at 23,000 feet (7,010 meters) but hesitated to open his parachute, fearing he’d become a target.
Unfortunately, Ivan passed out during his descent, plummeting uncontrollably at speeds between 120 and 150 miles per hour (193 and 241 km/h). He crashed into the edge of a snowy ravine, sliding to the bottom.
He survived with a fractured spine and shattered pelvis. Landing in Russian territory, he was hospitalized and made a full recovery, returning to bombing missions just three months later. [8]
2. Alan Magee
Alan Magee joined the American Air Force after the attack on Pearl Harbor. On January 3, 1943, while on a bombing raid over France, his B17 was shot down. Alan’s parachute was destroyed by anti-aircraft fire.
As he moved to bail out, the B17 exploded, flinging him unconscious from over 20,000 feet (6,096 meters). He crashed through the glass ceiling of a train station, becoming entangled in the girders.
Despite severe injuries, including a nearly severed arm and lost teeth, he survived. German doctors treated him at various hospitals and POW camps. After the war, he returned home, rarely speaking about his ordeal. [9]
1. Bear Grylls
Bear Grylls, famous for his survival shows, had a near-fatal skydiving accident in 1996. During training with the 21 SAS regiment, his parachute failed to open at 16,000 feet (4,877 meters).
He crash-landed on his back, fracturing his spine in three places. Doctors said he was millimeters from paralysis or death. Despite a grueling recovery, he climbed Mount Everest just two years later. [10]
These ten stories showcase the unbelievable capacity for survival against seemingly impossible odds. From skydiving mishaps to wartime emergencies, each individual faced dire circumstances and emerged, against all expectations, alive. Their experiences remind us of the unpredictable nature of life and the incredible resilience of which humans are capable.
What do you think about these incredible survival stories? Share your thoughts and reactions in the comments below!
