Extreme sports enthusiasts, especially those who are fans of heights, have been practicing the art of bungee jumping for some time. Bungee jumping produces powerful G forces both on the way down and on the snap back up, delivering a rush of adrenaline like no other. However, when everything is boiled down, you are still basically jumping off a cliff with a gigantic rubber band attached to your back. Maybe if we advertised bungee jumping as “jumping off a cliff with a giant rubber band attached to your back,” people would be more aware of just how wrong the whole experience can go. Here are some of the more unfortunate bungee jumps we have seen.

A Clean Pair of Pants

In the movies, whenever a protagonist has to skydive or bungee jump, he has nerves of steel and will of iron. In real life, people who bungee jump are either extreme sports enthusiasts, or are terrified beyond their wits. This is a case of the latter, an unfortunate circumstance of an elderly person trying to recapture his youth. I guess this means that there is sense to the rule “always go before you leave the house.” Fortunately, there was no injury — well, except for a massive blow to the pride. Man, not a good way to celebrate your 60th. This is reason one for why I don’t bungee jump.

The Makeshift Noose

Now, this guy is lucky to be alive. This guy’s first bounce wraps his bungee cord around his neck. Each bounce thereafter constricts the makeshift noose more and more, and if it weren’t for the repeated call-outs of the bungee-jumping professionals, telling him to tuck his knees to give him slack and get the thing over his head, this guy would have been a goner before his last bounce went off, and that is reason two for why I don’t bungee jump.

The Rubber Band Snap

And finally, we have the epitome of stupidity. These guys decide to do a low-altitude bungee jump off an overpass with their own homemade bungee equipment. Let me say that again: their own … homemade … bungee equipment. Professionals spend ages getting their harnesses just right to minimize impact on the body and eliminate the chances of cord failure, so what did these guys think they could do with a few coils of packing cord? Anyway, I don’t need to tell you they failed horribly, and one guy earned himself an unfortunate amount of broken bones and other injuries. I’m sure he won’t be trying that again, and that is reason three for why I don’t bungee jump.

Related posts on 30ninjas.com:

• A Clean Pair of Pants
• The World’s Biggest *TWANG*
• The World’s Tallest Bungee Jump
• Bungee Jumping Variations
• Rock Band 3 = Keyboard Hero?
• Bungee Jumping — Swing Off a Cliff