2012-02-27

Wingsuit flyer Jeb Corliss posts botched Table Mountain jump video | Metro.co.uk

Daredevil Jeb Corliss breaks both legs in wingsuit Table Mountain jump

Base-jumping daredevil Jeb Corliss has released a video showing a bungled wingsuit jump from South Africa's Table Mountain in which he broke both his legs.

Jeb Corliss, Table Mountain Strike: Jeb Corliss hits the rocky outcrop at 120mph (Picture: YouTube)

The Californian stuntman has spent the last five weeks in hospital after careering into a rocky outcrop at more than 120mph as part of a stunt for a US TV documentary.

In the video Table Mountain Crash All Angles posted on YouTube, Mr Corliss warns that the film 'may be disturbing for some viewers'.

The video shows Mr Corliss, 35, jumping off the 3,500ft tall mountain in his wingsuit complete with a series of helmet-mounted cameras.

Jeb Corliss, Table Mountain Winged-man: Jeb Corliss seconds after jumping off Table Mountain (Picture: YouTube)

But just seconds afterwards he misjudges a rock face marked by a helium balloon, crashing into it at waist-level before spiralling away as he struggles to activate the emergency parachute. Mr Corliss then falls 200ft and lands in some bracken.

The base-jumper, who has previously made successful leaps from the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Rio de Janeiro's Cristo Redentor, was airlifted to Christiaan Barnaard Hospital in Cape Town, where he is due to be discharged from this week.

'Mr Corliss needed extensive surgery on his legs and also needed skin grafts to repair the damage. He suffered serious and injuries and remains in the hospital, although he has been making good progress in recovery,' hospital spokeswoman Michelle Norris said.

Jeb Corliss Impact: Jeb Corliss struggles to activate his emergency parachute as he plummets 200ft (Picture: YouTube)

'One of the reasons he is still with us is that we needed to check how the wounds would heal from the skin grafts, but we hope to be able to discharge him on Friday. After that he plans to return home immediately to America to be with his family.'

In a message at the end of the YouTube video Mr Corliss gives 'special thanks' to a series of people.

'To the hikers that gave me water, to the rescue team that gave me life, to the hospital and staff that put me back together, THANK YOU,' the message says.

VIDEO: Watch Jeb Corliss crash at 120mph into Table Mountain

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