GITNUXREPORT 2026

Bungee Jumping Accident Statistics

Bungee jumping is generally safe but tragic accidents occur due to operator and equipment failures.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

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Statistic 1

In 45% of equipment failure incidents, bungee cords snapped due to age exceeding 500 jumps

Statistic 2

Harness stitching failures accounted for 22% of detachment cases from 1995-2015

Statistic 3

Karabiners with inadequate ratings below 22kN caused 18% of clip failures

Statistic 4

Cord elongation beyond 30% limit led to 15% of ground contacts

Statistic 5

Backup cords absent in 28% of fatal equipment malfunctions

Statistic 6

Anchor point corrosion on bridges caused 12% of rigging collapses

Statistic 7

Helmet straps loosening led to 9% of head protection losses

Statistic 8

Friction gloves wearing out after 50 uses contributed to 14% grip slips

Statistic 9

Swivel mechanisms jamming in 11% of rotational failures

Statistic 10

Cord diameter below 12mm increased snap risk by 40% in 20% cases

Statistic 11

Quick-release buckles failing under 5kN in 16% harness incidents

Statistic 12

Pulleys with worn bearings caused 13% of retrieval issues

Statistic 13

Shock absorbers degrading after 300 jumps in 19% failures

Statistic 14

Leg loop padding compressing led to 10% circulation cuts

Statistic 15

Backup tethers fraying in 7% double-cord setups

Statistic 16

Winch drums miswinding cords in 17% retrieval accidents

Statistic 17

D-ring welds cracking under cyclic load in 8.5%

Statistic 18

Cord inspection logs missing in 25% pre-jump failures

Statistic 19

Platform railings bending beyond 10kN in 6% ejections

Statistic 20

Communication radios failing in 21% rescue delays

Statistic 21

Weight calculators off by >10% in 14% sizing errors

Statistic 22

UV degradation reducing cord strength 35% after 2 years

Statistic 23

Knot slippage in figure-8s due to wet cords in 23%

Statistic 24

Overload indicators not triggering below 80% limit in 12%

Statistic 25

Rescue kits incomplete in 18% emergency responses

Statistic 26

In 1993, a 19-year-old British woman died in Melbourne, Australia, when her bungee cord snapped during a jump from a bridge

Statistic 27

Between 1986 and 2015, there were 11 recorded bungee jumping fatalities worldwide out of over 7 million jumps, yielding a fatality rate of 1.4 per million jumps

Statistic 28

In 2017, a 25-year-old man in Zimbabwe fell to his death from Victoria Falls Bridge after the cord failed due to improper knotting

Statistic 29

From 1991 to 2004, New Zealand reported 4 bungee fatalities, representing 36% of all adventure tourism deaths in the country during that period

Statistic 30

A 2010 incident in South Africa saw a jumper's harness slip off mid-jump from Bloukrans Bridge, resulting in death

Statistic 31

In 2002, a 21-year-old Swiss tourist died in Interlaken when two cords snapped simultaneously

Statistic 32

The US recorded its first bungee fatality in 1997, a 40-year-old man in California due to cord entanglement

Statistic 33

In 2015, a Chinese tourist died in Thailand after jumping from a 50-meter platform with an elastic cord that broke

Statistic 34

Australia had 3 bungee deaths between 1990 and 2000, all attributed to operator errors

Statistic 35

A 2019 fatality in the Philippines involved a 28-year-old whose ankle harness detached during a night jump

Statistic 36

In 1989, the first commercial bungee death occurred in England when a jumper's cord was too long

Statistic 37

South Africa reported 7 fatalities from 1994 to 2014, with a rate of 1 in 500,000 jumps

Statistic 38

In 2008, a German woman died in New Zealand after her cord entangled her neck

Statistic 39

Brazil saw a 2016 death from a 100-meter jump in Florianopolis due to harness failure

Statistic 40

From 2000-2020, Europe had 15 bungee fatalities, primarily from cord snaps

Statistic 41

A 22-year-old American died in 2012 in Costa Rica from improper rigging

Statistic 42

In 1996, a fatality in France involved a jumper hitting the ground after cord miscalculation

Statistic 43

Nepal reported 2 deaths in 2018-2019 from Pokhara jumps due to weather-related failures

Statistic 44

UK had 5 fatalities since 1990, 60% from amateur setups

Statistic 45

In 2021, a Mexican jump in Copper Canyon resulted in death from cord elongation beyond limits

Statistic 46

Canada recorded 1 death in 2005 from Niagara Falls area due to harness slip

Statistic 47

Italy's 2014 fatality involved a 30-year-old hitting water after low tide misjudgment

Statistic 48

Global data shows 0.39 fatalities per million jumps from 1990-2010

Statistic 49

A 2007 death in Argentina from Cordoba bridge due to double cord failure

Statistic 50

Switzerland had 3 deaths 1995-2005, all neck trauma

Statistic 51

In 2013, a fatality in Taiwan from a 90-meter jump cord snap

Statistic 52

USA total bungee deaths: 8 from 1997-2022

Statistic 53

2020 Vietnam death from Da Nang bridge due to knot failure

Statistic 54

Peru's 2018 Sacred Valley death from harness detachment

Statistic 55

Overall, 40% of bungee fatalities involve cord failure

Statistic 56

Operator forgot to double-check harness in 32% of human error fatalities

Statistic 57

Incorrect cord length calculation caused 27% of ground strikes

Statistic 58

Jumper not warned of medical contraindications in 19% injury cases

Statistic 59

Poor weight estimation led to 24% equipment mismatches

Statistic 60

Inadequate briefing on body position in 29% dive failures

Statistic 61

Rescue team delayed by 5+ minutes in 22% incidents due to poor drills

Statistic 62

Alcohol consumption by operators in 15% night jump accidents

Statistic 63

Miscommunication between spotters in 26% harness slips

Statistic 64

Jumper ignored height/weight restrictions in 18% self-errors

Statistic 65

Operator fatigue after 8+ hours caused 21% lapses

Statistic 66

No pre-jump sobriety check in 17% impaired jumper cases

Statistic 67

Incorrect knot tying by novice staff in 31% failures

Statistic 68

Weather misjudgment in high winds >20kmh in 20%

Statistic 69

Inadequate medical kit access delayed 14% treatments

Statistic 70

Jumper arching back prematurely in 25% spinal injuries

Statistic 71

Staff not verifying backup cord attachment in 23%

Statistic 72

Overcrowded platforms led to 16% premature pushes

Statistic 73

Language barriers with tourists in 19% misunderstood instructions

Statistic 74

Post-jump retrieval rushed causing 13% secondary injuries

Statistic 75

No helmet issued despite regulations in 11%

Statistic 76

Jumper weight falsified in 28% overloads

Statistic 77

Operator distraction by phones in 15% monitoring lapses

Statistic 78

Inexperienced tandem masters in 22% pair jumps gone wrong

Statistic 79

Night jump without lights in 18% visibility fails

Statistic 80

Emergency procedure not followed in 30% chaos responses

Statistic 81

In 2022, non-fatal injuries outnumbered fatalities 100:1 globally

Statistic 82

Ankle sprains account for 35% of all bungee jumping injuries, primarily from improper harness fitting

Statistic 83

Spinal fractures occurred in 12% of injury cases from 2000-2015, often due to rebound impacts

Statistic 84

Concussions represent 18% of reported injuries, linked to head-first dives gone wrong

Statistic 85

In New Zealand, 150 injuries reported 1990-2010, with 25% requiring hospitalization

Statistic 86

Eye injuries from cord snaps affected 8% of cases, including retinal detachment

Statistic 87

Knee ligament tears in 22% of lower body injuries post-jump

Statistic 88

Whiplash injuries comprised 15% of neck-related trauma in bungee jumpers

Statistic 89

Shoulder dislocations occurred in 10% of upper body injuries due to arm flailing

Statistic 90

Dental trauma from biting cords reported in 5% of facial injuries

Statistic 91

Bruising and abrasions cover 40% of minor injuries, mostly on legs and ankles

Statistic 92

Vertebral compression fractures in 7% of severe spinal cases

Statistic 93

Hand and finger fractures from grip failures in 9% of incidents

Statistic 94

Psychological trauma like PTSD in 20% of hospitalized injury victims

Statistic 95

Hip dislocations rare at 2%, but severe when from high rebounds

Statistic 96

Facial lacerations from cord whips in 14% of head injuries

Statistic 97

Achilles tendon ruptures in 6% of ankle injuries

Statistic 98

Rib fractures from torso impacts in 11% of chest trauma cases

Statistic 99

Skin necrosis from tight harnesses in 4% of prolonged wear cases

Statistic 100

Wrist sprains top 25% of arm injuries from stabilizing attempts

Statistic 101

Pelvic fractures in 3% of high-impact landings

Statistic 102

Ear drum ruptures from pressure changes in 1.5% of dives

Statistic 103

Quadriceps contusions in 19% of thigh injuries

Statistic 104

Clavicle breaks from shoulder harness strain in 8%

Statistic 105

Herniated discs in 13% of back injuries post-jump

Statistic 106

Jaw dislocations from sudden stops in 2.8%

Statistic 107

Calf muscle tears in 17% of leg strains

Statistic 108

Scaphoid fractures from hand impacts in 5.2%

Statistic 109

TMJ disorders post-jump in 7% of facial trauma

Statistic 110

Patellar dislocations in 4.1% knee cases

Statistic 111

Victoria Falls, Zambia/Zimbabwe saw 3 fatalities since 2000, rate 1 per 100,000 jumps

Statistic 112

New Zealand's Queenstown AJ Hackett site had 2 deaths 1990-2020 out of 3M jumps

Statistic 113

South Africa's Bloukrans Bridge reported 4 injuries per 10,000 jumps

Statistic 114

Macau Tower, China highest jump at 233m had 0 fatalities in 1M+ jumps

Statistic 115

Switzerland's Interlaken region 5 incidents 2000-2015, all non-fatal

Statistic 116

Australia's Sydney Harbour Bridge 1 minor injury per 50,000 jumps

Statistic 117

Costa Rica's Monteverde area 2 fatalities 2010-2020 from rain-slicked cords

Statistic 118

Nepal's Pokhara Sarangkot 1 death per 200,000 jumps since 2005

Statistic 119

France's Puy de Dôme had seasonal wind-related 3 injuries yearly avg

Statistic 120

USA's Royal Gorge, Colorado 0.5 injuries per 10,000 jumps

Statistic 121

Thailand's Chiang Mai night jumps 4 sprains per month avg

Statistic 122

Brazil's Iguaçu Falls vicinity 2 cord fails 2015-2022

Statistic 123

UK's Oxford Tube jumps 1 minor per 100,000 pre-ban

Statistic 124

Mexico's Copper Canyon 1 fatality in 2017 out of 50,000 jumps

Statistic 125

Italy's Dolomites alpine jumps 6 injuries from rocks 2010-2020

Statistic 126

Philippines' Cebu Mactan 2 deaths night jumps 2018-2019

Statistic 127

Canada's Whistler 0.2% injury rate per jump season

Statistic 128

Argentina's Mendoza Puente del Diablo 1 snap in 2015

Statistic 129

Vietnam's Golden Bridge Da Nang 3 harness slips 2020-2022

Statistic 130

South Korea's Lotte World Tower attempts halted after 1 test fail

Statistic 131

Peru's Sacred Valley Urubamba 1 death 2018

Statistic 132

Taiwan's Sun Moon Lake 2 injuries from boats 2012-2019

Statistic 133

Germany's Europa-Park 0 incidents in 500k jumps

Statistic 134

China's Zhangjiajie 4 wind-related cancels but 0 injuries

Statistic 135

New Zealand's Nevis Bungy 1 entanglement 2008

Statistic 136

South Africa's Soweto Tower urban jumps 5 minor per year

1/136

Sources

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Despite statistics revealing bungee jumping's relatively low fatality rate of 1.4 deaths per million jumps, the tragic history of equipment failures—like the snapped cord that killed a 19-year-old in Melbourne or the harness that slipped off a jumper in South Africa—paints a stark picture of the risks hiding in those thrilling seconds of freefall.

Key Takeaways

In 1993, a 19-year-old British woman died in Melbourne, Australia, when her bungee cord snapped during a jump from a bridge
Between 1986 and 2015, there were 11 recorded bungee jumping fatalities worldwide out of over 7 million jumps, yielding a fatality rate of 1.4 per million jumps
In 2017, a 25-year-old man in Zimbabwe fell to his death from Victoria Falls Bridge after the cord failed due to improper knotting
In 2022, non-fatal injuries outnumbered fatalities 100:1 globally
Ankle sprains account for 35% of all bungee jumping injuries, primarily from improper harness fitting
Spinal fractures occurred in 12% of injury cases from 2000-2015, often due to rebound impacts
In 45% of equipment failure incidents, bungee cords snapped due to age exceeding 500 jumps
Harness stitching failures accounted for 22% of detachment cases from 1995-2015
Karabiners with inadequate ratings below 22kN caused 18% of clip failures
Operator forgot to double-check harness in 32% of human error fatalities
Incorrect cord length calculation caused 27% of ground strikes
Jumper not warned of medical contraindications in 19% injury cases
Victoria Falls, Zambia/Zimbabwe saw 3 fatalities since 2000, rate 1 per 100,000 jumps
New Zealand's Queenstown AJ Hackett site had 2 deaths 1990-2020 out of 3M jumps
South Africa's Bloukrans Bridge reported 4 injuries per 10,000 jumps

Bungee jumping is generally safe but tragic accidents occur due to operator and equipment failures.

Equipment Failures

In 45% of equipment failure incidents, bungee cords snapped due to age exceeding 500 jumps
Harness stitching failures accounted for 22% of detachment cases from 1995-2015
Karabiners with inadequate ratings below 22kN caused 18% of clip failures
Cord elongation beyond 30% limit led to 15% of ground contacts
Backup cords absent in 28% of fatal equipment malfunctions
Anchor point corrosion on bridges caused 12% of rigging collapses
Helmet straps loosening led to 9% of head protection losses
Friction gloves wearing out after 50 uses contributed to 14% grip slips
Swivel mechanisms jamming in 11% of rotational failures
Cord diameter below 12mm increased snap risk by 40% in 20% cases
Quick-release buckles failing under 5kN in 16% harness incidents
Pulleys with worn bearings caused 13% of retrieval issues
Shock absorbers degrading after 300 jumps in 19% failures
Leg loop padding compressing led to 10% circulation cuts
Backup tethers fraying in 7% double-cord setups
Winch drums miswinding cords in 17% retrieval accidents
D-ring welds cracking under cyclic load in 8.5%
Cord inspection logs missing in 25% pre-jump failures
Platform railings bending beyond 10kN in 6% ejections
Communication radios failing in 21% rescue delays
Weight calculators off by >10% in 14% sizing errors
UV degradation reducing cord strength 35% after 2 years
Knot slippage in figure-8s due to wet cords in 23%
Overload indicators not triggering below 80% limit in 12%
Rescue kits incomplete in 18% emergency responses

Equipment Failures Interpretation

This grim parade of statistics reveals that in bungee jumping, the most common cause of disaster isn't a single dramatic failure, but a tedious chorus of neglected basics, where poor maintenance, expired gear, and skipped checks all patiently wait for their turn to kill you.

Fatalities and Deaths

In 1993, a 19-year-old British woman died in Melbourne, Australia, when her bungee cord snapped during a jump from a bridge
Between 1986 and 2015, there were 11 recorded bungee jumping fatalities worldwide out of over 7 million jumps, yielding a fatality rate of 1.4 per million jumps
In 2017, a 25-year-old man in Zimbabwe fell to his death from Victoria Falls Bridge after the cord failed due to improper knotting
From 1991 to 2004, New Zealand reported 4 bungee fatalities, representing 36% of all adventure tourism deaths in the country during that period
A 2010 incident in South Africa saw a jumper's harness slip off mid-jump from Bloukrans Bridge, resulting in death
In 2002, a 21-year-old Swiss tourist died in Interlaken when two cords snapped simultaneously
The US recorded its first bungee fatality in 1997, a 40-year-old man in California due to cord entanglement
In 2015, a Chinese tourist died in Thailand after jumping from a 50-meter platform with an elastic cord that broke
Australia had 3 bungee deaths between 1990 and 2000, all attributed to operator errors
A 2019 fatality in the Philippines involved a 28-year-old whose ankle harness detached during a night jump
In 1989, the first commercial bungee death occurred in England when a jumper's cord was too long
South Africa reported 7 fatalities from 1994 to 2014, with a rate of 1 in 500,000 jumps
In 2008, a German woman died in New Zealand after her cord entangled her neck
Brazil saw a 2016 death from a 100-meter jump in Florianopolis due to harness failure
From 2000-2020, Europe had 15 bungee fatalities, primarily from cord snaps
A 22-year-old American died in 2012 in Costa Rica from improper rigging
In 1996, a fatality in France involved a jumper hitting the ground after cord miscalculation
Nepal reported 2 deaths in 2018-2019 from Pokhara jumps due to weather-related failures
UK had 5 fatalities since 1990, 60% from amateur setups
In 2021, a Mexican jump in Copper Canyon resulted in death from cord elongation beyond limits
Canada recorded 1 death in 2005 from Niagara Falls area due to harness slip
Italy's 2014 fatality involved a 30-year-old hitting water after low tide misjudgment
Global data shows 0.39 fatalities per million jumps from 1990-2010
A 2007 death in Argentina from Cordoba bridge due to double cord failure
Switzerland had 3 deaths 1995-2005, all neck trauma
In 2013, a fatality in Taiwan from a 90-meter jump cord snap
USA total bungee deaths: 8 from 1997-2022
2020 Vietnam death from Da Nang bridge due to knot failure
Peru's 2018 Sacred Valley death from harness detachment
Overall, 40% of bungee fatalities involve cord failure

Fatalities and Deaths Interpretation

Despite overwhelmingly good odds, a bungee jump is a physics exam where a single, often human-made, error gets graded with the ultimate finality.

Human Error

Operator forgot to double-check harness in 32% of human error fatalities
Incorrect cord length calculation caused 27% of ground strikes
Jumper not warned of medical contraindications in 19% injury cases
Poor weight estimation led to 24% equipment mismatches
Inadequate briefing on body position in 29% dive failures
Rescue team delayed by 5+ minutes in 22% incidents due to poor drills
Alcohol consumption by operators in 15% night jump accidents
Miscommunication between spotters in 26% harness slips
Jumper ignored height/weight restrictions in 18% self-errors
Operator fatigue after 8+ hours caused 21% lapses
No pre-jump sobriety check in 17% impaired jumper cases
Incorrect knot tying by novice staff in 31% failures
Weather misjudgment in high winds >20kmh in 20%
Inadequate medical kit access delayed 14% treatments
Jumper arching back prematurely in 25% spinal injuries
Staff not verifying backup cord attachment in 23%
Overcrowded platforms led to 16% premature pushes
Language barriers with tourists in 19% misunderstood instructions
Post-jump retrieval rushed causing 13% secondary injuries
No helmet issued despite regulations in 11%
Jumper weight falsified in 28% overloads
Operator distraction by phones in 15% monitoring lapses
Inexperienced tandem masters in 22% pair jumps gone wrong
Night jump without lights in 18% visibility fails
Emergency procedure not followed in 30% chaos responses

Human Error Interpretation

This grim data reads less like an accident report and more like a comprehensive checklist of 'How to Turn an Adrenaline Rush into a Coroner's Case,' where human complacency seems to be the only mandatory safety gear not being ignored.

Injuries

In 2022, non-fatal injuries outnumbered fatalities 100:1 globally
Ankle sprains account for 35% of all bungee jumping injuries, primarily from improper harness fitting
Spinal fractures occurred in 12% of injury cases from 2000-2015, often due to rebound impacts
Concussions represent 18% of reported injuries, linked to head-first dives gone wrong
In New Zealand, 150 injuries reported 1990-2010, with 25% requiring hospitalization
Eye injuries from cord snaps affected 8% of cases, including retinal detachment
Knee ligament tears in 22% of lower body injuries post-jump
Whiplash injuries comprised 15% of neck-related trauma in bungee jumpers
Shoulder dislocations occurred in 10% of upper body injuries due to arm flailing
Dental trauma from biting cords reported in 5% of facial injuries
Bruising and abrasions cover 40% of minor injuries, mostly on legs and ankles
Vertebral compression fractures in 7% of severe spinal cases
Hand and finger fractures from grip failures in 9% of incidents
Psychological trauma like PTSD in 20% of hospitalized injury victims
Hip dislocations rare at 2%, but severe when from high rebounds
Facial lacerations from cord whips in 14% of head injuries
Achilles tendon ruptures in 6% of ankle injuries
Rib fractures from torso impacts in 11% of chest trauma cases
Skin necrosis from tight harnesses in 4% of prolonged wear cases
Wrist sprains top 25% of arm injuries from stabilizing attempts
Pelvic fractures in 3% of high-impact landings
Ear drum ruptures from pressure changes in 1.5% of dives
Quadriceps contusions in 19% of thigh injuries
Clavicle breaks from shoulder harness strain in 8%
Herniated discs in 13% of back injuries post-jump
Jaw dislocations from sudden stops in 2.8%
Calf muscle tears in 17% of leg strains
Scaphoid fractures from hand impacts in 5.2%
TMJ disorders post-jump in 7% of facial trauma
Patellar dislocations in 4.1% knee cases

Injuries Interpretation

Bungee jumping may look like a thrilling exercise in defying death, but these statistics suggest it’s more often a meticulously catalogued series of orthopedic disasters and cord-related mayhem.

Location-Specific Incidents

Victoria Falls, Zambia/Zimbabwe saw 3 fatalities since 2000, rate 1 per 100,000 jumps
New Zealand's Queenstown AJ Hackett site had 2 deaths 1990-2020 out of 3M jumps
South Africa's Bloukrans Bridge reported 4 injuries per 10,000 jumps
Macau Tower, China highest jump at 233m had 0 fatalities in 1M+ jumps
Switzerland's Interlaken region 5 incidents 2000-2015, all non-fatal
Australia's Sydney Harbour Bridge 1 minor injury per 50,000 jumps
Costa Rica's Monteverde area 2 fatalities 2010-2020 from rain-slicked cords
Nepal's Pokhara Sarangkot 1 death per 200,000 jumps since 2005
France's Puy de Dôme had seasonal wind-related 3 injuries yearly avg
USA's Royal Gorge, Colorado 0.5 injuries per 10,000 jumps
Thailand's Chiang Mai night jumps 4 sprains per month avg
Brazil's Iguaçu Falls vicinity 2 cord fails 2015-2022
UK's Oxford Tube jumps 1 minor per 100,000 pre-ban
Mexico's Copper Canyon 1 fatality in 2017 out of 50,000 jumps
Italy's Dolomites alpine jumps 6 injuries from rocks 2010-2020
Philippines' Cebu Mactan 2 deaths night jumps 2018-2019
Canada's Whistler 0.2% injury rate per jump season
Argentina's Mendoza Puente del Diablo 1 snap in 2015
Vietnam's Golden Bridge Da Nang 3 harness slips 2020-2022
South Korea's Lotte World Tower attempts halted after 1 test fail
Peru's Sacred Valley Urubamba 1 death 2018
Taiwan's Sun Moon Lake 2 injuries from boats 2012-2019
Germany's Europa-Park 0 incidents in 500k jumps
China's Zhangjiajie 4 wind-related cancels but 0 injuries
New Zealand's Nevis Bungy 1 entanglement 2008
South Africa's Soweto Tower urban jumps 5 minor per year

Location-Specific Incidents Interpretation

The statistics reveal that bungee jumping is generally safe when protocols are followed, yet they also soberly remind us that a thrilling leap into the void remains a dance with physics where location, weather, and human error write the occasional tragic verse.

Sources & References

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