From thrill to tragedy—World record ‘death dive’ leaves Aussie in critical condition
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If you’ve ever watched those daredevil stunts on TV and thought, 'Crikey, that’s a bit much for me,' you’re not alone.
But for some Aussies, the thrill of pushing the limits is just too tempting to resist.
Enter Vali Graham, a 21-year-old adrenaline junkie from Newcastle, NSW, who recently attempted a world-record 'death dive' from the top of Minnehaha Falls in the Blue Mountains. What happened next is a sobering reminder of just how dangerous these extreme sports can be—even for the most experienced thrill-seekers.
On June 11, Vali stood atop a 42.5-metre cliff—about the height of a 13-storey building—preparing to leap into the unknown.
With a crowd of spotters below and a camera rolling, he launched himself off the rock ledge, twisting acrobatically through the air in a move that would make even Olympic divers wince. But as he plummeted towards the water, things took a terrifying turn.
Instead of entering the water cleanly, Vali landed in an awkward 'pike' position. The impact was brutal: he was knocked unconscious, fractured his skull and back, burst his eardrum, and suffered a concussion.
Despite these horrific injuries, Vali’s story is one of both caution and resilience.
Thanks to his safety team, who quickly jumped in to help, he regained consciousness in the water and, with assistance, managed to swim to the edge and pull himself onto solid ground.
Incredibly, he then walked a steep 1.2km out of the bush to reach the car, where his friends rushed him to hospital.
There, he underwent two major surgeries—one on his back and another on his sternum—and began the long road to recovery.
For those unfamiliar, 'death diving' (or dødsing, as it’s known in Norway where the sport originated) is not your average backyard bombie.
The sport involves leaping from dizzying heights, stretching out in a starfish or pike position, and only curling up at the last possible moment before hitting the water.
The current world record is held by Swiss diver Lucien Charlon at 41.7 metres—just shy of Vali’s attempted jump.
Source: @lostmtns and @philosophyofsend / Instagram.
Vali later updated his followers on social media, sharing both the physical and mental toll of his ordeal. 'God gives us the gift of suffering,' he wrote, reflecting on his injuries as a test of faith and resilience.
He detailed his injuries—fractured T11 vertebrae, sternum, a small skull fracture, and a burst eardrum—but also expressed gratitude for his spotters and the outpouring of support from friends and fans.
Remarkably, he was walking just two days after surgery and is determined to rebuild his body and return stronger than ever.
The response online has been mixed. Many praised his courage and dedication, with some even suggesting he deserves the world record for his efforts.
Others, however, were less impressed, questioning the wisdom of risking life and limb for a stunt and pointing out the strain such accidents can place on the healthcare system.
'My taxes have to pay for your dumb choices,' one commenter wrote, while another quipped, 'God didn’t give you that suffering, you did that yourself.'
If you’re feeling inspired to try something new, remember: you don’t have to leap off a cliff to challenge yourself! There are plenty of ways to stay active and adventurous—whether it’s bushwalking, swimming, or even taking up a new hobby—without putting your life on the line.
What do you think, members? Are these daredevil stunts a celebration of human courage, or just reckless risk-taking? Have you ever pushed your own limits (safely, of course!) or do you prefer to keep your feet firmly on the ground? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments below!
But for some Aussies, the thrill of pushing the limits is just too tempting to resist.
Enter Vali Graham, a 21-year-old adrenaline junkie from Newcastle, NSW, who recently attempted a world-record 'death dive' from the top of Minnehaha Falls in the Blue Mountains. What happened next is a sobering reminder of just how dangerous these extreme sports can be—even for the most experienced thrill-seekers.
On June 11, Vali stood atop a 42.5-metre cliff—about the height of a 13-storey building—preparing to leap into the unknown.
With a crowd of spotters below and a camera rolling, he launched himself off the rock ledge, twisting acrobatically through the air in a move that would make even Olympic divers wince. But as he plummeted towards the water, things took a terrifying turn.
Instead of entering the water cleanly, Vali landed in an awkward 'pike' position. The impact was brutal: he was knocked unconscious, fractured his skull and back, burst his eardrum, and suffered a concussion.
Despite these horrific injuries, Vali’s story is one of both caution and resilience.
A Newcastle man, Vali Graham, suffered critical injuries including a fractured skull, burst eardrum, and broken back after attempting a world record ‘death dive’ from the 42.5 metre Minnehaha Falls in the Blue Mountains. Image source: @lostmtns and @philosophyofsend / Instagram.
Thanks to his safety team, who quickly jumped in to help, he regained consciousness in the water and, with assistance, managed to swim to the edge and pull himself onto solid ground.
Incredibly, he then walked a steep 1.2km out of the bush to reach the car, where his friends rushed him to hospital.
There, he underwent two major surgeries—one on his back and another on his sternum—and began the long road to recovery.
For those unfamiliar, 'death diving' (or dødsing, as it’s known in Norway where the sport originated) is not your average backyard bombie.
The sport involves leaping from dizzying heights, stretching out in a starfish or pike position, and only curling up at the last possible moment before hitting the water.
The current world record is held by Swiss diver Lucien Charlon at 41.7 metres—just shy of Vali’s attempted jump.
Source: @lostmtns and @philosophyofsend / Instagram.
Vali later updated his followers on social media, sharing both the physical and mental toll of his ordeal. 'God gives us the gift of suffering,' he wrote, reflecting on his injuries as a test of faith and resilience.
He detailed his injuries—fractured T11 vertebrae, sternum, a small skull fracture, and a burst eardrum—but also expressed gratitude for his spotters and the outpouring of support from friends and fans.
Remarkably, he was walking just two days after surgery and is determined to rebuild his body and return stronger than ever.
The response online has been mixed. Many praised his courage and dedication, with some even suggesting he deserves the world record for his efforts.
Others, however, were less impressed, questioning the wisdom of risking life and limb for a stunt and pointing out the strain such accidents can place on the healthcare system.
'My taxes have to pay for your dumb choices,' one commenter wrote, while another quipped, 'God didn’t give you that suffering, you did that yourself.'
If you’re feeling inspired to try something new, remember: you don’t have to leap off a cliff to challenge yourself! There are plenty of ways to stay active and adventurous—whether it’s bushwalking, swimming, or even taking up a new hobby—without putting your life on the line.
What do you think, members? Are these daredevil stunts a celebration of human courage, or just reckless risk-taking? Have you ever pushed your own limits (safely, of course!) or do you prefer to keep your feet firmly on the ground? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments below!
