Buzz
Being a daredevil is inherently dangerous. While some stunts may only lead to broken bones or similar injuries, others can easily be life-threatening. To embrace the daredevil lifestyle, you must acknowledge the risks, knowing that every stunt could be your last. For some, that inevitable moment finally came.
10. Orvar Arnarson and Andrimar Pordarson
Orvar Arnarson, an experienced skydiving instructor from Iceland with over 1,000 jumps, and Andrimar Pordarson, who had completed eight jumps, were part of an annual skydiving trip to Florida in 2013. After completing two jumps, the duo prepared for their third on the morning of March 23. They were seen exiting the plane separately, but neither of them ever made it back to the ground. After hours of concern, their friends contacted authorities. It took nine hours of searching before their bodies were found in a wooded area, roughly 1.5 kilometers (one mile) away from their intended landing site.
The situation was baffling from the start. Neither of the primary parachutes had deployed, and the backup chutes (designed to open automatically if the main chute fails) hadn't fully inflated before the impact. It wasn't until the police reviewed footage from Arnarson's helmet camera that the chain of events became clear. The video revealed that Pordarson was unable to deploy his primary chute. Observing his less-experienced friend's distress, Arnarson made a split-second decision to risk his own life in an attempt to save Pordarson. He reached out mid-fall and desperately tried to free the malfunctioning chute. The two fell to their deaths, never managing to deploy the parachute.
9. Kyle Lee Stocking
Canyon rope swinging, where daredevils swing from a rope tied to the arch of a massive canyon, had surged in popularity on YouTube over the past year. Several videos surfaced showcasing individuals trying to outdo one another for online fame. In March 2013, 22-year-old Kyle Lee Stocking attempted his own rope swing at Moab, Utah's Corona Arch. Harnessed by a waist belt and surrounded by friends and spectators, Stocking leapt into the air. But instead of soaring through the arch, he plummeted directly to the canyon floor, instantly killing himself. The group had poorly estimated the necessary length of rope for the swing. The site, known for its World’s Biggest Rope Swing, had never seen such a tragic accident before.
8. Matt Cranch
For decades, Scott May's Daredevil Stunt Show has thrilled audiences across the UK, performing high-risk feats to raise money for charitable causes. In 2011, the team was at the Kent County Showground, where stuntman Matt Cranch prepared for the Human Cannonball act. The stunt involved Cranch being loaded into a large hydraulic cannon-like structure mounted on a truck. Once he signaled readiness, Cranch would be launched into the air, where he needed to twist and land on a precisely positioned safety net. Unfortunately, the net gave way during this performance, and Cranch fell to the ground. He suffered severe head injuries and a broken neck, and later passed away in the hospital. Despite this tragedy, Scott May's Daredevil Stunt Show continues to tour the UK.
7. Audrey Mestre
Freediving, a thrilling and perilous sport where divers rely solely on their breath without using tanks or other gear, may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of daredevil activities. However, it is a dangerous pursuit that can be just as deadly as jumping out of an airplane. In 2006, Audrey Mestre, a French freediver, set her sights on breaking the world record, which was held by her husband, by diving 171 meters (561 feet) into the deep ocean. To reach this depth, she was attached to a 200-pound weight attached to a steel cable, helping her descend to her target depth.
Against all odds, Mestre managed to complete the dive, but on her ascent, she lost consciousness at a staggering 90 meters (300 ft) deep. Her team faced multiple setbacks when trying to retrieve her from the water. The cables they used appeared to be compromised from prior training, and the lift-bag meant to bring her back to the surface was either underinflated or had a leak. Mestre’s dive lasted nine minutes without access to oxygen, and tragically, she couldn’t be revived and passed away on-site. A documentary titled No Limits chronicles Mestre’s record-breaking attempt.
6. Richard Guzman
In the early 1970s, tightrope walker Richard Guzman was part of the renowned Flying Wallendas. On the fateful night of his death, however, he wasn’t the main performer. The event unfolded before 6,000 spectators at the Wheeling Island Stadium in West Virginia. Headliner Karl Wallenda had just completed his perilous tightrope act when, as he neared the end of the wire, Guzman, Wallenda’s son-in-law, climbed up a support structure to take the balancing pole from him and help him down. Twelve years earlier, Guzman had survived a fall from the wire that left him hospitalized for nine months, so he knew the importance of a safe descent. As Guzman reached to grab the pole, he unintentionally steadied himself on an electrified wire meant to hold the metal rigging in place. The shock sent him plummeting to the ground, where he landed on a police officer who was trying to catch him. Despite immediate care from an off-duty nurse, he later succumbed to his injuries.
5. Todd Green
Wing walking is an extreme sport where individuals climb onto the wings of a biplane while it’s flying. Though some daredevils use safety equipment, others, like Todd Green, choose to go without. In 2011, during the Selfridge Air Show in Michigan, Green attempted an incredibly dangerous stunt—trying to leap from the biplane's wings to grab a helicopter hovering above. He failed to make the grab, tragically slipping off the plane and falling to his death. At first, the crowd thought it was part of the act.
In 2011, Sailendra Nath Roy set a record by crossing a 180-meter river while suspended from a zip wire attached to his ponytail. His powerful stunt, performed before a live audience, demonstrated his strength and courage, but also highlighted the extreme risks of his daring feats.
Sailendra Nath Roy, an Indian daredevil, was famously known for using his extraordinarily strong hair to pull massive vehicles, including buses and trains. In 2013, he planned to break his own record by crossing a river while dangling from a zip line attached to his ponytail. During the stunt, he covered about half of the 180-meter distance before becoming stuck. Tragically, despite the danger and the delay in rescuers reaching him, Roy passed away from a heart attack while suspended, just as he had promised his wife it would be his final stunt.
Sean Cunningham was a skilled pilot in the British Royal Air Force's prestigious Red Arrows aerobatic team. In 2011, while preparing for a flight in his Hawk T1 at RAF Scampton, Lancashire, a tragic malfunction occurred. His ejector seat unexpectedly fired, launching him more than 60 meters into the air. Sadly, Cunningham’s parachute failed to deploy, and he fell to his death. Despite investigations, no mechanical fault was found with the equipment.
In 2011, two pilots from the British Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows tragically lost their lives. Lt. John Egging was the first, believed to have lost consciousness from G-forces, leading to a fatal spiral. Sean Cunningham’s death came under strange circumstances when his ejector seat unexpectedly activated, launching him into the air. His parachute failed to open, and he fell to his death. After an investigation, it was found that no mechanical fault was responsible for the accident.
Jane Wicker was an accomplished wing walker who performed breathtaking stunts atop moving planes. Tragically, she lost her life during a routine performance in 2013 when the plane’s wing detached, sending her falling to the ground. This heart-wrenching accident marked a somber moment in the history of aerial entertainment.
Jane Wicker was a dedicated wing walker, deeply passionate about her craft. She had even dreamed of marrying her fiancé on the wings of a plane. Sadly, that dream was never realized. On June 22, 2013, at the Vectren Air Show in Ohio, Jane performed one of her signature tricks, climbing onto the wings of a plane while it soared through the sky. This would be her final performance. During the act, the aircraft began to move unpredictably and soon entered a dangerous barrel roll. Despite the pilot, Charlie Schwenker, attempting to steer the plane away from the audience, the plane crashed at high speed and exploded into flames. Both Wicker and Schwenker died instantly.
1. Pavel Kashin
Pavel Kashin was a Russian freerunner renowned for his daring stunts and extraordinary agility. In 2013, he attempted a death-defying backflip on the edge of a 16-story building in St. Petersburg. His final moment was captured by a friend who stood on the roof with him and took a photograph mid-flip. Tragically, Kashin missed his landing on the ledge, falling to his death. The photo of his last backflip was later shared by his family in the hope that it would serve as a warning and prevent others from attempting similarly dangerous feats. Videos showcasing Kashin's exceptional freerunning talent are widely available online.
