Norwegian diver Ken Stornes has become the first person to complete the “death dive” challenge by jumping from a height of over 40 meters into freezing waters.
According to Oddity Central, the death dive, or Dødsing, was invented by guitar artist Erling Bruno Hovden at Frognerbadet in the summer of 1972. It is a high diving discipline that requires extreme free diving with arms and belly stretched out.
Ken Stornes dove into the freezing waters of Nordfjord from a high cliff. (Photo: O.C).
Dives are typically performed from heights of 10 to 15 meters above the water, but more daring divers leap from much greater heights. The record for the classic male diving category is 40.5 meters, recently set earlier this month by Ken Stornes, a former MMA fighter from Norway. Stornes leaped into the icy waters of Nordfjord from a towering cliff.
“Once again, we have brought the world record for death diving back to Norway,” Stornes wrote on his personal Instagram, posting a video of his spectacular dive.
Stornes’ Telegram channel boasts 700,000 followers, thanks to videos showcasing his bold jumps into the frigid waters. His latest achievement has garnered millions of views.
“I like to have something to strive for and enjoy taking risks,” Stornes told Norwegian news outlet NRK.
The challenge of “death diving” from heights over 40 meters is incredibly dangerous. Stornes admits that he could suffer serious injuries if he does not enter the water correctly. Classic death diving requires the diver’s arms and legs to be stretched horizontally as long as possible before curling up and hitting the water.
“I hit the water perfectly. The timing and speed of the jump may not have been optimal, but the entry into the water was perfect, and that’s what matters,” Stornes recounted about his record-setting dive at a depth of 40.4 meters.
Video of the man completing the “death dive” challenge from a height of 40 meters into freezing waters.
