A terrifying holiday experience in Russia has sparked an official investigation after footage appeared to show a female tourist repeatedly begging not to jump from a 260ft canyon, only for staff at the attraction to push her over the edge.
The woman, visiting the Noh’o tourist hub on the Sulak River in the mountainous Dagestan region, appeared visibly panicked as she tried to stop the jump. Despite her desperate pleas, instructors allegedly dragged her towards the edge and kicked her legs to force her into position for the plunge.
Her husband, identified as Yegor, filmed the ordeal and appeared to laugh as she struggled with her fear.
The incident has prompted the Russian Investigative Committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the jump, amid reports of other female tourists who allegedly felt pressured into taking part in the same attraction.
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A terrifying holiday video shows a woman tourist pleading not to leap 260ft into a canyon – but being forced to make the jump
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She was strapped into a seated harness for the canyon pendulum leap which is unlike a conventional bungee jump
‘Please don’t throw me like that!’
The woman was secured in a seated harness for a canyon pendulum jump, an attraction that differs from a conventional bungee jump.
However, as she approached the edge, her fear appeared to overwhelm her. Video footage reportedly captured her repeatedly demanding to be released while instructors continued preparing her for the descent.
‘Please don’t throw me like that! No, don’t!’ she pleaded.
As staff held her near the edge, she continued shouting: ‘No! No! Let me go, let me go! No!’
She also turned to her husband for help, desperately calling out: ‘Please, Yegor! Don’t! I’m begging you!’
At one point, an instructor appeared to kick her legs to position her for the jump, despite her repeated protests.
‘I’m scared,’ she said, continuing to demand that the staff let her go.
The footage has raised questions about why the jump proceeded after the woman appeared to withdraw her willingness to participate.
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Husband filmed as she pleaded for help
Yegor’s apparent reaction has also attracted attention.
Rather than visibly intervening as his wife begged the instructors to stop, he continued filming the incident and appeared amused by her distress.
The woman ultimately went over the edge and survived the 260ft plunge.
After being lifted back to the platform above the river, she appeared angry and continued protesting against what had happened.
When a staff member reportedly asked whether she wanted to jump again, she firmly rejected the suggestion.
‘No, no, no! I said “no”! Give me your hand! I’m scared… Let me go, let me go! No, no, no!’ she responded.
One account said the woman walked away silently after the ordeal, although footage showed her continuing to express her fear and frustration after returning to the platform.
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An official probe has been launched into the plunge into a cliff-lined abyss in Russia
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The female jumper thankfully survived the fall
Russian authorities launch investigation
The Russian Investigative Committee is investigating the incident, along with other reported cases in which female participants allegedly felt pressured by staff to make the canyon jump.
The inquiry follows concerns about how instructors handled participants who became frightened or changed their minds before the plunge.
Although the attraction has reportedly passed local safety inspections, those inspections have not prevented questions from being raised about the conduct of staff during individual jumps.
The central issue is whether participants were treated appropriately when they expressed a clear wish not to continue.
Other tourists have reported injuries
The latest incident is not the first time concerns have been raised about the attraction.
A 41-year-old tourist from Moscow named Anastasia previously alleged that staff forced her to jump against her will. Reports said she was subsequently diagnosed with a spinal cord contusion.
Another tourist, identified as Sonya, reportedly suffered a sprain after a rope wrapped around her leg during a jump.
Sonya alleged that instructors had failed to brief her adequately beforehand and then blamed her for performing the jump incorrectly.
The reported incidents have added to scrutiny of the attraction’s safety procedures and the responsibilities of staff overseeing participants.
Questions remain over consent and safety
The footage of the latest incident has renewed debate about how adventure attractions should respond when a participant becomes frightened and refuses to proceed.
Although the woman had already been fitted with a harness and brought to the jumping platform, her repeated objections raised questions about whether her decision to stop was respected.
The investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and the actions of those involved.
For now, the woman is reported to have survived the jump, but the circumstances in which it took place have drawn significant attention online.
Authorities have yet to announce the outcome of their investigation.