Safety experts examine bungee death jump video

Police and safety experts were tonight watching a video taken by the family of a man who plunged to his death in a charity bungee jump.

Camcorder footage recording the seconds before 22-year-old Christopher Thomas, believed to have weighed about 18 stone, hit the ground was taken by his family.

The 180ft charity jump was one of more than a dozen which had already taken place in aid of the neurosurgery department at nearby Morriston Hospital.

Mr Thomas was taken in a critical condition to the hospital department which he was helping to raise money for. He later died.

Police have seized the harness and bungee jumping equipment and they are carrying out a joint investigation with Swansea County Council. A Health and Safety Executive expert is also advising the council.

They confirmed that detectives are scrutinising the family video taken of the fatal bungee jump in an effort to try and find out exactly what happened.

Earlier police said that around nine or 10 people had already used the bungee jump before the man who died.

A woman at the charity event, in the car park of the Old Barn Inn, Swansea, described today her horror as she watched the man plummet to the ground.

Susan Bailey, 40, said “time stood still” as hundreds of people collectively realised what they were witnessing.

“He was a well built, beefy looking guy. He had the build of a rugby player - a big strapping lad,” said Mrs Bailey, the wife of Swansea County Council leader Lawrence Bailey.

“He fell from about 60ft up after jumping from the cage which was held 180ft in the air by a crane.

“I looked up and saw him go into the cage and come out again about three times before he jumped and I remember thinking that is how I would be.

“He made the jump and bounced safely but when he made the second descent at the point where he should have pulled up again the momentum changed.

“One moment everyone was listening to “We are Family” by Sister Sledge, and people were cheering and laughing, then everyone realised what was happening and all you could hear was the music.

“It was like time stood still and then he was on the ground close to where his family were sitting and people were shouting oh God!’

“I could see he still had the harness around his chest and hips.”

Mr Thomas’ family, from Kidwelly, west wales, was reported to be too distraught to speak today.

The company running the charity event on Monday, Freefall Bungee Wales, of Cefneithen, near Carmarthen, was unavailable for comment.

But N and A James Ltd, the company which hired out the crane at the event, said their machinery had been checked three days before the event.

Owner Alan James said the crane, which had been fitted with a new cable last Friday at a cost of 1,100 because a minor problem had been discovered with the previous one, had checked out “A-OK.”

“It is also checked every six months and has all the certification necessary. There was nothing wrong with the equipment.

“But I know that anyone taking a jump has to sign a disclaimer once they are in the cage.

“From that viewpoint nothing is covered at all. Once you are up there you are on your own.”

Councillor David Jones, Swansea council Cabinet Member for Environment and Health, described the death as “tragic.

“It is far too early in the investigation to draw any conclusions,” he said.

“At this time, our sympathies are with the family and friends of the young man who lost his life.”

But he added: “There are no licences required from the council for a bungee jump and the health and safety onus rests with the persons providing the service.

“All test certificates, procedures and risk assessments will be examined as part of the investigation.”

A statement from Andrew Bellamy, director of corporate development for Swansea National Health Service Trust, said: “We are devastated that such a tragic accident should occur during an event which was taking place to raise funds for the Trust.

“Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family.”