Russian Athlete Dies in Fall From Tower While Attempting Photo
PAVLOVSK, RUSSIA – Elizaveta Gushchina, a 45-year-old Russian extreme sports enthusiast, died Sunday after falling โฃapproximately 90โข meters (nearly 300 feet) from an old boiler tower in Pavlovsk. The tragedy occurred while Gushchina was attempting to take a photograph with her son, Nikita, 23,โ following a prosperous bungee jump.
Gushchina, an experienced bungee jumperโ and mother of two, had traveled to the tower withโ her son to celebrate her birthday with an extreme โฃsports outing. After completing a jump and recording aโฃ videoโ of the experience, sheโ reportedly climbedโฃ to the highest point of the tower without safety equipment specifically to capture a photograph. According to Russian Ministry of Defense television channel Zvezda, she slipped and fell in front of her son, dying instantly.
“In tragic circumstances,Liza,experienced jumping and mother of two โคchildren died,” a statement released โคby the extreme sports company involved read.”Elizaveta Gushchina, alongโ withโข herโ son Nikita,โค is part of our sports team.โข The entire team regrets this loss. It is a great tragedy for us.”
Authorities have launched an investigationโข to determine the circumstances โขsurrounding Gushchina’s death and to assess whether safety regulations were โfollowed during the activity. The incident highlights the โinherent risks โassociated with extreme sports and the importanceโค of adhering to safety protocols, even when seeminglyโฃ posing for a photograph.