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World first: paratriathlete bungee jumps from 50m in wheelchair

<p dir="ltr">An Aussie paratriathlete has become the first to bungee jump from a whopping 50m while in a wheelchair.</p> <p dir="ltr">Rohan Sills, a former carpenter, became paralysed following a serious workplace incident that saw him fall three metres down a stairwell at a construction site in 2019.</p> <p dir="ltr">Three years later, Rohan continues to refuse to allow his condition to stop him from doing what he loves. </p> <p dir="ltr">He has now broken the previous record of bungee jumping from 50m while in a wheelchair thanks to Sky Park in Cairns. </p> <p dir="ltr">Several thrilling videos were shared to Rohan’s Instagram showing his excitement to roll his wheelchair off the rooftop. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CaVtRpYlgH4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CaVtRpYlgH4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Rohan Sills (@rohansills)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“First ever wheelchair bungee jump off the roof in Australia and it was epic!” he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Massive shout out to the crew @skyparkcairns for making it possible. If you’re interested in giving it a go then give them a call and they will do their best to help you out.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Fans were left in awe at his bravery and commended him for not giving up on his dreams.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Man you are the real hero because you are chasing your own dreams. God will give you the power,” one wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">“This is superrrrr inspiring! What a lovely spirit!” another commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Congratulations!!! It looks amazing!” someone else wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">Rohan did another bungee jump last year at the same park but this time wanted to go higher. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Vanuatu's incredible land diving festival

<p>Ever wondered who was crazy enough to invent bungee jumping? The answer may lie in this amazing traditional festival in Vanuatu.</p> <p><strong>What is it?</strong></p> <p>The Naghol Festival celebrates the start of the yam harvest in Vanuatu and is an ancient tradition that is still celebrated today. Islanders build large wooden towers, up to 30 metres tall, that will be used for land diving. As the name suggests, boys and men tie a vine to each of their ankles and dive head first from the tower. If done properly, the vines should be just the right length so that the divers can curl their head up and their shoulders just brush the ground.</p> <p><strong>What does it mean?</strong></p> <p>The festival was originally meant to ensure a bountiful yam harvest for the village. The ground was said to be fertilised by the divers’ body brushing the ground as the came to the end of their jump. It is also a show of great courage from the men and boys taking part.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GzDTOToe2JY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><strong>Where is it?</strong></p> <p>The festival takes place on the island of Pentecost in Vanuatu. Pentecost is one of the country’s 83 islands and sits around 200 kilometres north of the capital Port Vila. It is small and pristine, with virgin rainforest, tumbling waterfalls, clear swimming holes and sparkling beaches.</p> <p><strong>When is it?</strong></p> <p>The Naghol Festival is held every Saturday in April and May.</p> <p><strong>How can I see it?</strong></p> <p>There are limited accommodation options on Pentecost island, so most visitors come for a day trip from Port Vila. The flight takes around one hour each way and there are packages available that include airfares, transfers and entry to the festival.</p> <p>Have you ever been to this festival?</p>

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