Cliff Jumper Sets World Record with 193-Foot Jump off Switzerland Waterfall

Laso Schaller was born without depth perception. “If I’m too relaxed, I won’t tense up enough when I land”.

The worst outcome would have been for Schaller to hit the water with his back or bottom, risking serious injury or even paralysis.

The magnitude of this jump required more preparation than your standard take-a-breath-and-go waterfall jump.

Finally, they did a number of rock drops – timing the landing and seeing the fall line. “Once you get above 25m, everything starts to look and feel the same”, he says.

Schaller jumped off the Cascata del Salto waterfall in Maggia, Switzerland, which is said to be as tall as the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy.

Schaller hit the water at a speed of 120 kilometres an hour 3.5 seconds after jumping from a special platform at the cliff top, erected so that he wouldn’t hit the rock face on the way down.

He overshot the aerated water and landed in the harder water towards the center of the pool.

To make sure his high-dive unfolded without a hitch, Red Bull challenge organizers built a wooded platform so he could steer clear of any rocky walls.

Red Bull, which sponsors the event, has not yet responded for comment.

The stunt left Schaller with a slightly dislocated right hip, but he emerged from the water smiling.