Erin Langworthy, an Australian tourist in her early twenties, had been travelling through Zambia in 2012 when she decided to take on a bungee jump off a bridge overlooking the Zambezi River.
In a terrifying turn of events, the backpacker’s bungee cord failed to recoil during the leap, sending her hurtling 360 feet into the fast-moving, crocodile-infested river.
In footage shared on social media, Langworthy can be seen dropping into the water after the cord snapped.
She then appeared to struggle to stay afloat as the river’s current carried her downstream.
Despite her injuries, including severe bruising and internal damage, Langworthy luckily survived the fall – as well as narrowly avoiding the jaws of predators lurking in the water.
Speaking about her injuries, Langworthy recalled: ‘I was black and blue all over, my lungs were full of blood and water.’
After being rescued by a staff member from the bungee company, Langworthy was rushed to a hospital in nearby Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.Â
She was treated for her injuries, which included partially collapsed lungs and concerns about the dirty water she had swallowed. Thankfully, X-rays confirmed there were no broken bones.
