| Another tragic first, claimed a victim at the | | | | Each man psyches himself to dive from the |
| birthplace of Extreme Sport when the precarious | | | | precarious looking platform, held only by two |
| 75' platform collapsed. Camera man dies before | | | | vines his friends have tied to his ankles. If there is |
| the first ancient ceremonial jump took place. | | | | too much moisture in the vines, the vines will |
| Islanders prepare themselves for the death | | | | stretch with fatal results. However, a participant |
| defying jump as ancient myths are revived in the | | | | died during a filming, when the Queen of England |
| annual event of the world's most spectacularly | | | | was present in 1974, because of an extremely |
| frightening religious ceremony. | | | | dry season. The vines did not have enough |
| Copyright (c) 2008 Wendy Tendys | | | | elasticity ' they tore instead of stretching. |
| Camera man dies when the Nagol Land Diving | | | | When he is ready to jump the diver raises his |
| platform collapses to the ground. The camera | | | | hands to the people below to stop their singing, |
| man had climbed the fragile platform to gain | | | | dancing and whistling. Just before he jumps he |
| spectacular shots for a new documentary. The | | | | shouts out his most intimate thoughts, whatever |
| entire tower collapsed to the ground, minutes | | | | they may be. It is time to let it all hang out, as |
| after the rope the camera man was holding | | | | these may be the last words the diver will ever |
| broke, even before the first performer had | | | | utter on earth. No proclomation of love to his wife |
| psyched himself into position, in preparation for his | | | | and family, just soul searing truth. |
| annual death defying leap. | | | | He claps his hands, crosses his arms over his |
| It is one of the world's most spectacularly | | | | chest and leans forward until he topples over the |
| frightening religious ceremonies, on Vanuatu's | | | | edge of the platform. |
| Pentecost island, the land dive. The home and | | | | Male relatives rush forward to help him untie his |
| ancient birthplace of extreme sport and the | | | | feet and instantly stand him up, in spite of the |
| pre-runner of all modern bungee jumping. | | | | fact he may not be quite 'with it'. The crowd |
| Perhaps it is just secret women's business, or just | | | | roars its approval. |
| legend from the mysterious myths of ancient | | | | This year the platform collapsed before the first |
| times, but it is whispered that the first land diver | | | | dive took place. Reasons: Were the holes dug |
| was a woman. In a desperate bid to escape her | | | | deep enough into the ground to carry the weight |
| husband's abuse she tied a vine to her ankle and | | | | of the climbers. Maybe there weren't enough |
| dived off the top of a tree. She survived. Not to | | | | supporting vines at the back to keep the tower |
| be outdone by a woman, her husband dived after | | | | upright. |
| her without the aid of a vine. He died. | | | | The camera man. What was he doing climbing the |
| This turned to an ancient ceremony, celebrating | | | | tower?the local islanders ask. |
| the yam crop showing its first green tips in early | | | | This is the 21st century, yet tradition still has its |
| April. At least one huge wooden tower is built in | | | | place, rightly or wrongly. Haven't they heard of |
| each of the southern villages of the island. Towers | | | | workplace safety? Short answer. NO! It does not |
| often reach as high as 23m (75ft). | | | | exist in places like the outer islands of Vanuatu. |
| This year, each Saturday from April to June, is to | | | | Neither does free education in accordance with |
| be a jump day, where the men of all ages will line | | | | the Rights of the Child, as ratified by the General |
| up to take the plunge. Unfortunately it could be | | | | Assembly of the United Nations, 1989. |
| their last act on earth. | | | | Many of the students will never have the |
| The islanders believe the jump is necessary to | | | | opportunity to go to high school without outside |
| guarantee the bounty of the yam harvest. The | | | | assistance, though the males of Pentecost will |
| divers' back or shoulders must brush the tilled | | | | annually make a death defying jump. These |
| earth, in order to make the ground fruitful. | | | | children will be left behind in the 21st century, with |
| Hopefully all rocks have been removed from the | | | | nothing but their traditional way of life. You can |
| area. | | | | make a difference in these children's lives and the |
| It has now also become a ceremony to show the | | | | lives of their village. Ancient traditions will not be |
| men's acceptance into manhood. What a potential | | | | challenged, but the children of this Lesser |
| death jump proves of manhood, however, is | | | | Developed Country, have the right to be given |
| beyond our civilized minds' comprehension. Bearing | | | | the opportunity to fulfill their own dreams and |
| in mind, the jump is now taboo to women. | | | | ambitions. |