News

Actions

VIRAL VIDEO: Jumper soars from world’s fifth-tallest waterfall

Posted at 3:50 PM, Aug 08, 2012
and last updated 2012-08-08 12:56:43-04

CHACHAPOYAS, Peru (CBS News) - A Belgian man took a daring leap from the world's fifth-tallest free-leaping waterfall in Peru's Amazon jungle which sent him racing towards the ground at speeds up to 125 mph.

World renowned B.A.S.E. jumper Cedric Dumont led a four-hour expedition through the thick jungle to the remote Gocta Waterfall, which was largely unknown to the outside world until 2005.

After carefully studying the conditions, and peering over the 2,530 foot cliff, Dumont jumped over the ledge and plunged straight down for a heart-pounding ten seconds before safely deploying his parachute.

The freefall was captured on film by Colombian jumper, Jhonathan Florez, who made the leap alongside Dumont.

Both landed safely at the bottom of the waterfall after completing the exhilarating feat for the extreme sport of B.A.S.E. jumping which consist of jumping from fixed structures like bridges, buildings and mountains and opening a parachute just before reaching the ground.

"It was one of the most intense jumps I've ever done," said Dumont. "And when you start flying and you see this jungle coming up because it like a canyon, and you see it coming closer and closer, and you still have this waterfall on the right side, this is so intense," he added.

Dumont said he has completed more than 2,000 B.A.S.E. jumps and said he wanted to jump off the picturesque Peruvian waterfall ever since he first laid eyes on it in November 2011.