A 22-year-old Australian woman survived a bungee jump accident in Zambia when the cord snapped during a 111-metre plunge over the Zambezi River. Erin Langworthy, from Sydney, was the 105th jumper of the day at Victoria Falls in 2012. She fell for four seconds after the rope broke, hitting the water at high speed.
Langworthy spent 40 minutes trapped in fast-flowing rapids with her ankles still tied together. She struggled to breathe and was pulled underwater by the remaining 30 metres of cord. At one point, the rope snagged, trapping her below the surface until she managed to free it. She eventually wedged her arm between rocks to stay afloat.
Rescued by a bungee company employee, Langworthy was taken to hospital in Victoria Falls, where she was treated for partially collapsed lungs and internal bruising. She was later flown to South Africa for further care. Despite the ordeal, she says she has never felt angry, noting that the rope likely snapped due to wear and tear.
Since the accident, Langworthy has turned to charity work. She now runs a nonprofit organisation that supports children in Zambia, aiming to give back to the country where she nearly lost her life. Her mother, who received a postcard the day before the jump joking about saying goodbye, keeps it on the fridge and insists she never bungee jumps again.
