A 45-year-old Russian woman died in tragic fashion celebrating her birthday last weekend when she fell nearly 300 feet after bungee jumping.
Elizaveta Gushchina, a mother of two, had just completed a jump from “an unfinished boiler house” in the city of Pavlovsk in St. Petersburg on August 30 when she decided to celebrate the occasion.
According to the Investigative Committee for St. Petersburg, Gushchina tried to climb the pipe to take a selfie, only to lose her footing and fall to her death.
“A woman who enjoys jumping from high objects on an elastic rope arrived at an unfinished boiler house with a pipe in the city of Pavlovsk in St. Petersburg to jump. After completing the jump, she climbed the pipe to take a photo, where she slipped and fell from a height. The injuries she sustained were fatal,” the Investigative Committee for St. Petersburg said.
Russian news outletThe Voice said Gushchina, who allegedly was not wearing a safety harness, fell from a height of roughly 88 meters, which equates to just over 288 feet. She was also reportedly with her 22-year-old son Nikita at the time of the fall.
Tragically, Gushchina turned 45 years old one day before her death.
Guschina’s fellow jumpers in mourning
While the Investigative Committee did not identify Gushchina by name, her bungee jumping group 23BLOCK confirmed her death.
“Under tragic circumstances, experienced jumper and mother of two children Liza passed away. Elizaveta Gushchina, together with her son Nikita, is a member of our sports team,” the team wrote in a Russian social media post.
“Now the whole team is mourning this loss. This is a very big tragedy for us.”
Bungee jumping: safe, but beware
As thrilling as bungee jumping can be as an activity, there are some things you must keep in mind before participating, says MontrealBungee.com.
Choosing a jump site that is well-known and reliable, while working with an experienced and dedicate team is paramount. Utilizing safe and dependable equipment is also necessary.
“Of course, as with any activity, good conduct is essential to ensure an environment both safe and pleasant for all,” Montreal Bungee writes. “By following the instructions mentioned upon arrival, you will quickly see that bungee jumping actually involves few risks.”
