Could you survive a fall into water....
Discussion
Stang said:
While doing a survival course a few years ago the subject came up and was told the best way is cross the feet. Can't say it would work although it is something I do often think about when flying to and from work 
(I need a new job!!)
(I need a new job!!)
Reminds me of the advice the instructor at Netheravon gave us when I was training for a static-line parachute jump... We'd been doing reserve drills, and someone asked him, "so what should we do if the reserve fails to open?".The instructor replied, "It's easy. Try to get yourself falling feet first. Cross your ankles, raise your left arm above your head and stick your right arm out sideways."
"Will that help?"
"No. You'll still die, but we'll be able to unscrew you from the ground and sell your watch."
I suspect that one's as old as the hills, but it still makes me chuckle 15 years later.
If jumped from some pretty extreme heights into water as well as water parachute jumps and can honestly say from 10,000 ft you would be dead no if or buts about it.
We used you jump wearing diving equipment (or just a suit, mask and fins) the highest I can remember doing was off of one of the Sea Forts just outside Portsmouth harbour it was high enough to jump, scream, take another breath and then hit the water. If you got it wrong it hurt, lots. You had to have ankles crossed very tightly (get this wrong and your feet will be ripped apart and you'll have testies for tonsels), knees slightly bent, one hand tightly acros your chest holding anything in that you're wearing and the other firmly holding onto you mask, fins wedged under you arm. I've also jumped off the bridge wings of some pretty big cargo ships while pi55ed up, the highest shattered the face of a G Shock watch which takes some doing. When Parachuting, you normally have some of your kit in a cannister which hits the water first as it hangs on a line about 20' below you, which gives you a good indication when to flare the cannopy even at night, a modern square cannopy will give a landing of similar force to stepping off a chair if done correctly, they are also breathable so even if you get tangled in the line and come up under the canopy it not a big deal and unlike in the films you can still breath and clear yourself away. The idea of getting out of the harness just before you hit the water and jumping free is pure movie.
We used you jump wearing diving equipment (or just a suit, mask and fins) the highest I can remember doing was off of one of the Sea Forts just outside Portsmouth harbour it was high enough to jump, scream, take another breath and then hit the water. If you got it wrong it hurt, lots. You had to have ankles crossed very tightly (get this wrong and your feet will be ripped apart and you'll have testies for tonsels), knees slightly bent, one hand tightly acros your chest holding anything in that you're wearing and the other firmly holding onto you mask, fins wedged under you arm. I've also jumped off the bridge wings of some pretty big cargo ships while pi55ed up, the highest shattered the face of a G Shock watch which takes some doing. When Parachuting, you normally have some of your kit in a cannister which hits the water first as it hangs on a line about 20' below you, which gives you a good indication when to flare the cannopy even at night, a modern square cannopy will give a landing of similar force to stepping off a chair if done correctly, they are also breathable so even if you get tangled in the line and come up under the canopy it not a big deal and unlike in the films you can still breath and clear yourself away. The idea of getting out of the harness just before you hit the water and jumping free is pure movie.
Lord Pikey said:
Not sure if its been mentioned yet, but what about a fall into white water? Providing that its deep enough, would say 10m of foamy white stuff provide a soft enough landing?
Pencil dive of course.
Good thinking; a pocket full of Alkaseltzer, throw them in the water a few seconds before you land...job's a good'un!! Pencil dive of course.
roboxm3 said:
Lord Pikey said:
Not sure if its been mentioned yet, but what about a fall into white water? Providing that its deep enough, would say 10m of foamy white stuff provide a soft enough landing?
Pencil dive of course.
Good thinking; a pocket full of Alkaseltzer, throw them in the water a few seconds before you land...job's a good'un!! Pencil dive of course.
30 odd tonnes of Vindaloo should do the trick
roboxm3 said:
I've often wondered about this; surely a feet first entry, toes pointed, legs tensed ect to make your body as streamline as possible would be alright.....wouldn't it!?
I would make as large a cross-section of myself as possible for 99.9% of the drop to keep terminal velocity to a minimum. If go go all pointy from the start you'll be going a great deal faster at the final contact. It's a pretty s
tty scenario though... Especially over the Artic Ocean 
mel said:
a modern square cannopy will give a landing of similar force to stepping off a chair if done correctly
It's actually softer than that if you get it just right. In response to the original question, as has been said, survival would be one in a million (if that) and beyond all reasonable liklihood. I caught a bit of 'Richard Hammonds Blast Lab' (highly scientific I know) the other day, and they dropped a car, upside down onto a pool of water from 50(?) feet and the car's roof was staved in. Doesn't give much hope for human bones...
roboxm3 said:
Lord Pikey said:
Not sure if its been mentioned yet, but what about a fall into white water? Providing that its deep enough, would say 10m of foamy white stuff provide a soft enough landing?
Pencil dive of course.
Good thinking; a pocket full of Alkaseltzer, throw them in the water a few seconds before you land...job's a good'un!! Pencil dive of course.
(When entering the water from a height, the fall's not nearly as scary as trying to get back up to the surface in near zero visability, with no air in your lungs.)
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