St. Petersburg, Russia – A 45-year-old woman died Saturday after a fall from a 90-meter-high chimney in Pavlovsk City, a suburb of St. Petersburg,following a bungee jump and attempt to take a selfie with her son. Elizaveta Gushchina, an experienced extreme sports enthusiast, succumbed to injuries sustained in the fall.Gushchina and her son, Nikita, a fellow member of their bungee jumping club, had completed a jump from the unfinished thermal power plant chimney earlier in the day. According to reports from Russian media outlet Pure TV, Gushchina returned to the platform without a safety harness to pose for a photograph. A source stated she was secured only by the bungee cord itself, without proper length regulation, and slipped on a wet surface before falling.
The incident occurred on Gushchina’s 45th birthday, with the jump reportedly being a gift from her son. Video footage circulating online shows Gushchina successfully completing a jump moments before the fatal accident.
“Yesterday, in a tragic state, experienced jumpers and mothers of two children, Liza, died,” her extreme sports club said in a statement Sunday. “Elizaveta Gushchina, along with his son, Nikita, is a member of our sports team. Now the entire team is mourning for this loss. This is a very big tragedy for us.”
Authorities have launched an inquiry into the bungee jumping facility to ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations. The tragedy highlights the inherent risks associated with extreme sports and the critical importance of adhering to safety protocols, even after a accomplished activity.