Man Killed in Zorbing Accident in Russia

[PCW_Nut]

Tragic accident costs one man his life. Seems that there were a lot of safety violations that cause this incident.

 

www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/zorbing-death-father-of-two-killed-after-1525302

 

A thrill-seeker died when the giant inflatable Zorb ball he was riding in with a pal plunged over a cliff.

 

Married dad-of-two Denis Burakov, 27, broke his neck and spine after the sphere veered off course and began rolling down a mountain.

 

Amazingly Vladimir Shcherbakov, 33, escaped with concussion, cuts and bruises.

 

The friends' harrowing death ride plunge, in the Caucasus mountains of southern Russia, was caught on video but we have chosen not to use it.

 

As Denis climbs into the Zorb he can be heard telling him: "Denis, you'll be like Jackie Chan in the Armour of God movie!"

 

But moments after the giant ball sets off down the course it lurches to the right and then the left as frantic ride organisers chase after it in a bid to catch it.

 

A man's voice is heard saying "Oh f***, it's gone in the wrong direction again" before screaming 'hold it, hold it! hold!"

 

Then he says: "Ah well, it's OK, it'll stop by itself."

 

After plunging down Ganachhirskiy Gorge in the Dombai resort, the orb eventually came to rest about one and a half kilometres away on a frozen lake.

 

Mr Burakov was still alive when he was found by emergency services on January 3, but he died on the way to hospital.

 

Police commander Sergei Shuvayev said: "The orb went on for about one and a half kilometres, jumping on the rocks and hitting them."

 

The Stavropol edition of the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper reported that Mr Burakov's friend was "extremely lucky".

 

It said: "As for whatever they felt falling down the slope it is hard even to imagine. Some compare the pressure to what cosmonauts feel."

 

Police are investigating.

 

Zorbing, first tried in New Zealand in the 1990s, puts riders inside two balls with an air cushion between them.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19gFJnrmiO0

Edited January 9, 2013 by robbalvey

[SharkTums]

<> In Russia, Safety Violations Kill You!

[Taylor Finn]

That is some seriously scary stuff right there.

[DougMJr]

Here is the video for those who choose to view it. It has no gore, not really disturbing in my opinion but view at your own discretion.

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=19gFJnrmiO0

[cfc]

That is some seriously scary stuff right there.

 

Indeed. I guess that's why you shouldn't have a Zorb course anywhere near a cliff.

[traincrossin]

Guys, i've got a great idea. Let's go zorbing at the top of a mountain, nothing can go wrong! Russia looking strong for a complete sweep at this year's Darwin Awards.

[darklingscribe]

Guys, i've got a great idea. Let's go zorbing at the top of a mountain, nothing can go wrong!

 

 

I was thinking the same thing. Who put a Zorbing course at the top of a mountain without any sort of deep trench and build up snow walls.

[gisco]

Wow, the course doesn't look safe to begin with.

[Angry_Gumball]

A man's voice is heard saying "Oh f***, it's gone in the wrong direction again" before screaming 'hold it, hold it! hold!"

 

Then he says: "Ah well, it's OK, it'll stop by itself."

 

Yea, there's so much wrong going on there, reminds me of something I'd hear/see in South Park...shouldn't something have been done the first time around when the Zorb went 'off course'? Watching the video, minus the 2 very low walls (if you even want to call them walls) on the sides, I couldn't tell if it was really a course or not. And it apparently did not stop by itself, at least not in a safe manor.

[BeemerBoy]

Holy crap....................that totally made my day!

[Mechanic]

Will this attraction be included on the TPR Russia trip?

[OrthoMan]

^I don't see why not. Nothing a little duck tape can't fix.

 

 

In all seriousness though, I feel horrible for all those involved (minus the attraction owners). This would be insanely tragic to witness/experience for yourself.