A woman plunged 360 feet into a crocodile-filled river after her bungee cord unexpectedly snapped.
Back in 2012, Australian traveler Erin Langworthy was on a trip through Zambia when she decided to try something bold—bungee jumping from a bridge that crosses the powerful Zambezi River. This river is well-known not only for its rapid currents but also for being home to many crocodiles.
What started off as an adrenaline-filled activity quickly turned into a nightmare when the bungee cord suddenly broke mid-air. She plummeted 360 feet down into the fast-moving waters below.
A video of the moment the cord snapped was later shared on social media, showing the heart-stopping fall as it happened.
The woman fell 360ft into crocodile-infested waters when her bungee cord snapped.Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Travel
It’s nothing short of a miracle that she not only survived the fall but also avoided being harmed by the crocodiles that are known to inhabit the river.
Reports say she had to swim while her legs were still tied, and she eventually managed to untangle the bungee cord when it got stuck on some rocks.
Although the fall took place around 5:30 in the evening, Langworthy didn’t arrive at the hospital until 11 p.m. By that time, she had to be placed on a ventilator, and doctors gave her antibiotics to prevent infections from the river water she had swallowed.
Doctors treated her for several injuries, including lungs that had partially collapsed. They also kept a close eye on her due to the dirty water she had been exposed to during the ordeal.
While speaking with The Guardian about the experience, Langworthy said: “I started coughing up blood and began to worry about internal injuries. I just felt exhausted and struggled to process what had happened.”
Representatives from the bungee company later came to visit her in the hospital to apologize for what had happened. They were shocked that she had lived through such a life-threatening situation.
Erin Langworthy miraculously survived the fall and the potential threat of lurking predators.Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Travel
She had sent her mom a postcard with a joke on it, saying: “I’m doing a bungee jump tomorrow, so I’ll say goodbye… only joking!”
That postcard has since become a meaningful piece of family history. But her mom is clear on one thing—she wants nothing to do with that kind of thrill ever again.
