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Vali Graham, a 21-year-old from Australia, suffered critical injuries during a world-record 'death dive' attempt at Minnehaha Falls in the Blue Mountains on June 11. Graham aimed to break the current record of 41.7 meters held by Swiss diver Lucien Charlon by diving from a 140-foot cliff.
The extreme sport, known as dødsing, or death diving, involves divers jumping from high platforms and performing acrobatic moves before hitting the water. Unfortunately, Graham landed awkwardly in a 'pike' position, resulting in a fractured skull, back, and sternum, a concussion, and a burst eardrum. Despite these injuries, he managed to regain consciousness and swim to safety with the help of his safety team.
Graham was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent emergency surgeries and began a lengthy rehabilitation process. He later updated his followers, expressing gratitude for the support and describing his ordeal as a 'gift from God.' He wrote, "After regaining consciousness, I pulled myself out of the water and walked a steep 1.2 km out to our car where my friends took me to hospital."
Death diving is an amateur sport with competitions held worldwide, including a world championship in Norway. The drop from Minnehaha Falls is equivalent to a 13-story building, making Graham's attempt both daring and dangerous.