One of the first skydives in Antarctica goes terribly wrong

[@robinwoodbury2563]

It's clear to me why Michael and Norwegians were the only survivors on this jump. They were the only participants who partook of supplemental O2 in the aircraft on the way up to jump-altitude. They were exposed to the same descent rate, extreme cold, visibility and ground-proximity recognition issues as those who perished, but they had fed their brains sufficient oxygen to keep their wits about them and make good (or good enough) decisions.

[@davidtrindle6473]

They were ill-advised to think oxygen was optional. Air starts thinning at 8,000 ft and people vary widely in how much oxygen they need--which also varies by how much exertion there is on the way down, using up precious oxygen. They dropped at 18,000 feet, with only 8,000 feet to the ground. In our area (PA) free-fallers and group acrobatics usually drop at 12,000 feet plus. You can drop at 3,500 feet if you pull your cord immediately without any free fall. The margin for error above that is way more than the 4,500 feet they allowed (8,000-3,500). They would have hit the ground (which is at 10,000 ft) in roughly 18 seconds, at which point they would hit the ground at over 350 mph! 18 seconds doesn't seem enough time to clear everyone out of the plane, form up, orient themselves, adjust positions, release each other, pull their ripcords, and decelerate to a survivable speed of impact. Who did the math ahead of time? Did they think they were superhuman?

[@Kizzabell]

Its so stupid they were literally offered oxygen and refused it. I guess they thought they were too tough and strong to need it. But it makes them look weak and insercure. It's actually way cooler to take risks seriously.

[@erstwhile6163]

@@Kizzabellso you’re assuming they died because they wanted to look strong and cool?

[@justinbarion2269]

​@@erstwhile6163 either that or dumbness

[@SongsforSleepwalkers]

I’ve just removed skydiving from my bucket list and replaced it with “see a ballgame at Fenway Park. “ Another thoroughly enjoyable adventure story. Thanks for sharing.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

I thought I might skydive one day but after all these stories, I’m with you! 😆

[@trig33kgirl]

Sky diving is not on my list. Neither is Everest or any super cold adventure!

[@kazzykaioken8873]

You guys are letting youtube vids make you scared to death of everything from caves to the ocean to any adventerous pursuit. You guys are gonna end up domesticsted living in the metaverse as there is no danger there

[@M_Rasmussen58]

😂

[@joeybluenote9268]

just don't wear a Yankees hat and you'll be fine.

[@js887744]

At least there were no bears in this one.

[@jflowj]

😂 Facts. I knew nothing about polar bears before watching this channel. Up to 10’ tall? They are now my number one fear. 🏃🏼‍♀️🐻‍❄️😅

[@kathyinwonderlandl.a.8934]

@@jflowjoh they’re all starving due to loss of habitat and melting ice no food so humans are fine… soon to be extinct polars will be R.I.P.

[@laahaalaahaa]

Antarctica is literally named that way because that means "the place opposite the place with bears" (arctus = bear)

[@Alltagundso]

​@@laahaalaahaa Is this true? 😯😄😅

[@ruthd7274]

​@Alltagundso it turns out that it is, but it relates to the constellation, not the animal. Who knew? 😂

[@mikesingle5025]

It was a calm quiet Sunday when everyone at the National Science Foundation South Pole Station has the day off. Brunch had finished and the Station staff and scientists were all outside to watch the jump. I was there on the other side of the runway watching through the viewfinder of my Arri SR movie camera filming for an unrelated PBS production. The number of canopies didn't add up and it took manyl seconds to process what had occurred. I'll never forget seeing the lone jumper on his knees knowing he would have just realized what had happened. The tandom guys landed successfully and then the bodies were recovered and the team got in their twin otter aircraft and flew away leaving the Station folk stunned and in shock.

[@SoulDevoured]

I'm so sorry you had to see that.

[@GreatBooker]

Your channel is really underrated. I like how you explain things without sensationalizing or victim blaming (and I saw that’s against your rules!). I am about as far from an adventurer as one can be, but I’m curious about the things that can go awry. I hope you get a big boost in subscribers soon!!

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Thanks for the support!

[@alexwelsh4336]

Yes, this channel is always rational and measured 👍

[@joelsteverson]

Great video. As a skydiving instructor I almost didn't watch it. People get so much wrong about the sport. I half expected to laugh at all the errors in this video but you were spot on for most of it. That's a really rare thing and you should be proud of the work you did. It's ten times better than when most non-skydivers talk about skydiving. A few comments for the non-jumpers. Around 10:00 you switch back and forth between MSL and AGL altitudes. For anyone who was confused: MSL is above sea level. AGL is above ground level. If you were confused when she said Antarctica was largely 9,000' MSL and then talked about deploying parachutes at 3,500' AGL the numbers are different because they're measuring from two different places. In Antarctica 3,500' AGL is around 12,500' MSL (which is the altitude most jumps are made from). Free fall speed between 20,000' MSL and 10,000' MSL really isn't that much different. The people who died were almost certainly hypoxic due the the long time spent above 10,000' MSL. Taking off from 9,000' MSL you should be on Oxygen before you can take your seatbelts off. Sadly, even while racing towards the ground at 120 MPH, you can completely forget where you are. People get focused on what they're doing and really just forget. Goggles or face lens freezing over definitely won't help, and fingers too numb to pull are a death sentence. Excitement, extreme cold, high altitude jump, shorter freefall time, task focus... add hypoxia to that and it's lucky anyone from the 4-way group survived. Around 11:30 you mention the reserve exploding out. That's a little misleading. The AAD fires a charge that propells a razor blade to cut a cord that holds the reserve parachute shut. Cord gets cut, springloaded pilot chute comes out and seconds later you have a reserve over your head. It's one of the best safety devices ever invented for skydiving. Hope those details are helpful for understanding everything. Again, really impressed by your overall accuracy on this topic. Great job! D-31230 AFFI

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Thanks Joel! I try to research every sport I cover in detail and tell it as accurately as possible. I appreciate your comment explaining things a bit more! It's great for those who know nothing about the sport. There's been a few comments from experienced skydivers and instructors that have helped us non-skydivers understand the intricacies of the sport, so again, much appreciated!

[@JadedBelle]

Thanks so much for contributing your knowledge and experience to this story. Very interesting.

[@Roddy556]

Also the you said thebad was jumping at the North pole. That's the other side of the planet.

[@elenar9901]

The mental image of the two "snow angels" is so haunting...

[@tboneoutdoors688]

I skydived once in the early 90’s. It was a static line skydive. About 8 of us at a bar one night planned it. Only 3 showed up. I did it. I lived. I’ll never do it again!

[@ArcFixer]

Hi again. In 1967, 16 of 18 skydivers drowned in Lake Erie when things went wrong. Might be a good topic for a video.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

I came across that one while researching this and I immediately wanted to know more. It’s now on my list!

[@ootek34]

I was there….I was the cook at Patriot Hills that season. Pretty accurate depiction of what went down. I stayed up with Michael that night after they returned from Pole, and he told me a few times in detail what happened. It was a very somber time in camp, as we had just had 2 other deaths from falls into crevasses a week or so earlier…RIP

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Thanks for sharing, it must have been devastating for everyone there.

[@alexshaw8167]

I can’t imagine what that night would have been like. They would have expected a night of celebrations and joy. I’m so sorry to you and to everyone else that was involved.

[@rfleming7883]

Totally impressed with the hosts ability to communicate great detail about the people, equipment and difficulties encountered skydiving in Antarctica. Beautifully delivered and written.

[@danae-rain3019]

I really like her too!

[@maevecrowley8210]

Me too

[@Nyalloyd]

I would love to see a poll of your viewers of who are avid outdoors people and who doesn’t even tolerate the icy pathway to their car.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Yes! They seem to be one or the other.

[@shojinryori]

I swear, with each successive video I just hunker down and rejoice in my hermit tendencies. *shudder* But I love the channel and watch every vid!

[@adventuresgonewrong]

😂😂

[@Nyalloyd]

@@shojinryori I think we’re the same person 🤣

[@mbryson2899]

Hiking is about as extreme as I ever got, and even then I was keenly aware of the hazards. I've passed on offers of spelunking, skydiving, BASE jumping, ocean yachting, and scuba diving. I like my safety and comfort. I'm no chicken. I rode motorcycles for 30 years, I've run toward gunfire and broken up fights. It's more a risk-to-reward calculation for me.

[@mitch.el420]

You have a real talent for this genre of videos! It has been awesome to watch your audio quality and visuals improve, but it was always your talent for scripting and delivery that made me subscribe-thank you again!!!

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Thanks a ton! I try to get better with every video!

[@evanhughes3027]

If ever partaking in arctic or antarctic shenanigans and a Norwegian is present, always follow the Norwegian. No exceptions.

[@runninggirl2765]

You are a natural story-teller and your content is unusual and so entertaining. THANKS!! P.S. I had hypoxia as a result of internal bleeding and decision making is whacked. I was dying and knew it, but did not alert others to my condition. You can not rely on your brain in this situation.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Wow that’s intense. But it makes sense when people make these crazy decisions that make no sense to the rest of us. They’re just not capable of thinking clearly.

[@keepmoving1185]

Great storytelling without AI. Well done!

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Thx!

[@bltvd]

Yes, this lady is great to listen to!

[@KellJell]

How tragic! Hadn't heard of this incident. Thanks for telling it in such an interesting and detailed way!

[@adventuresgonewrong]

My friend told me about it, he worked in Antarctica! I’d never heard of it either.

[@mosaic.owl.studios]

I remember when this happened. It was explained to me that a big factor was the all-white barren landscape, and a lot of skydivers unknowingly rely on the relative size of known objects (houses, buildings, roadways) when they are focused on other things mid-dive (the formation). In all previous conditions they may have relied on ground objects in their peripheral view to alert them of their proximity to the ground when they weren't directly looking at their altimeter. Their usual visual cues for altitude were absent.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

That totally makes sense.

[@justkim9827]

I didn't catch what year this took place but I've been skydiving (tandem) and my buddy had an altimeter to know when to pull the chute. Your theory does make alot of sense though.

[@kelanriley2940]

What I really like about this channel is the host gives us a good dose of reality when it comes to adventure. The challenges of planning, logistics, equipment failures, decision making etc. The host seems to have quite a bit of outdoor experience herself since she tends to give us the unglamourous details that the target audience actually tends to dig.

[@clairebearlife]

Of all the titles I expected, skydiving in Antarctica was not part of it.

[@keepmoving1185]

Yes!!!

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Right?!? Who knew people even skydived there? I didn’t until a couple weeks ago.

[@jelyfisher]

​@@BrianHealy666she's aware of the mistake!

[@akfarmboy49]

@@BrianHealy666yes South Pole is almost in the center of Antarctica

[@harridan.]

it all sounds like complete idiocy to me. i died from sepsis after an improperly cleaned i.v. site during finger surgery; i didn't breathe for around 20 minutes, and i now live with minor brain damage. i have to wonder if any of those lunatics already had compromised mental function from previous dives which might explain their idiotic plan to jump there in the 1st place. as regards the obsession with record setting - all is vanity.

[@headdown1]

I'm a retired Canadian skydiver with about 900 jumps. I have jumped at -35C, and the biggest issue is keeping your hands warm enough in freefall and keeping your googles or visor from icing over. Landing on snow in the flat light of day makes depth perception challenging. I doubt if hypoxia was a factor. Oxygen is only required to be used in the airplane by the jumpers before exit IF the jump is from more than 15,000 ft ASL. A Twin Otter is not going to be above 15,000 ASL for very long at all if they jumped at 17,000 ASL (8000ft AGL). There was not likely enough time spent in the airplane in the thin air to get hypoxic. I also doubt if the increased freefall speed was more than a minor factor. These guys are used to routinely jumping from the standard 13,500 AGL, which is often close to 15,000 ft ASL, depending on drop zone elevation. I once was having so much fun in freefall with friends that we all passed through our intended break off altitude, and we all opened lower than legal or intended. We felt pretty sheepish, since we were all instructors and the most experienced jumpers on the drop zone at the time. I suspect this incident was caused by having too much fun and losing track of altitude, with the featureless and snowy terrain directly below them giving them no visual clues that they were getting too low. Add in the possibility of restricted vision if anyone had fogging goggles or visors, and the stage was set. Like most skydivers, I jump with an AAD, or automatic activation device, that will open my parachute at about 750 ft AGL if I do not for any reason. Had all the jumpers been using AAD's, nobody would have been killed. Even just using a Dytter ( a loud beeper against your ear) worn inside your helmet that can be set to alert you at any particular altitude in freefall also would have likely prevented these deaths.

[@humanmerelybeing1966]

Interesting perspective. Do you think you use the ground as a reference every time you jump, even though ultimately you rely on your altimeter for an accurate assessment? I imagine the white and the endless sunlight would make it extremely hard for any sort of depth perception, which could lead to getting lost in the moment.

[@derf0007]

Seems like in a nutshell they we just being negligent. Usually, that's how these stories go.

[@headdown1]

@@derf0007 Hindsight is 20/20. But yes it is usually human error that cause most accidents while skydiving, flying, or driving. It is usually not a failure of a mechanical device, but a series of small mistakes that compound each other that lead to disaster.

[@headdown1]

@@humanmerelybeing1966 Hi there, Once you are used to skydiving, you glance at the gound on occasion, but that doesn't tell you much when you are still very high. Mostly we glance at our altimeters or a friend's altimeter if he is right in front of us. Your speed and low altitude does become obvious though if you look at the ground when you are at or below pull time -around 2000 - 2500 ft. It begins to visibly move and seems to spread out, whereas for most of the freefall it seemed static, unless you really stared at it for a while. It just visually seems like you are in an airplane flying...there is no real visual sense of the ground coming up at 120 mph or more when you are still very high. I don't really inderstand why several people on this jump did not have AADs or an audible altimeter like a Dytter. We never think we are going to need them, but most of us have and use both anyway. It sounds like they didn't pull at all, and had no idea they were about to impact.

[@joelsteverson]

I'm confused by your comments about oxygen. I'm a skydiving instructor and have done many high altitude jumps. When we set the Colorado state formation skydiving record (RW record for you FUGs, although I guess I'm a FUG now) we jumped from around 20,000' msl which for us was around 14,000' agl. We were always on oxygen starting at 10,000' msl and the Twin Otters crawled so slowly the higher we got. From halfway to jump altitude took almost twice as long as from take off to halfway. If we hadn't had oxygen we'd all have been hypoxic and we live a mile higher than most the rest of the country. I will completely endorse your statements about AADs. Wouldn't get in the plane without one. I've never needed mine, but I woudln't jump without it. D-31230 AFFI

[@BarneyHefner]

I feel like I am sitting across the kitchen table from you and we are watching the video together with your common-person narration.

[@akfarmboy49]

I remember that day well. Yes I was working at South Pole station. Need to remember the station is at 10,000 feet roughly altitude barometric pressure is about .687 Because it’s an ice dome the cold air slides off of the ice cap actually creates a vacuum so that that barometric pressure is more for like 11,500 feet which throws altimeter off if you don’t have it calibrated properly and it was so cold is there a altimeters rated for -40. This was a totally private venture to go. They’re not connected at all with the US Antarctica program. I do remember the whole crew, happy and bubbly and full of excitement. I remember them all having to load up the airplane and the three bodies things are pretty quiet in the same airplane.

[@ootek34]

I worked for ANI that season, and I know there were last minute negotiations going on to allow this to happen. As I remember,Pole wasn’t thrilled about any of this. I helped put them in our storage area under the ice when they got back to camp….a very somber event

[@mariannehettinger]

The three jumpers who died didn't carry an emergency shoot that would deploy automatically at a certain altitude? How tragic what happened to them. The image of bloody snow angels is so sad. Thank you for the great research and non-sentimental delivery. It's informative and interesting!

[@kylieh3329]

Greetings from Australia. I love your show and especially your storytelling. Thanks for sharing these stories. I think you are doing a great job. I've rarely heard your stories before. ❤

[@whiskeymonk4085]

I really like your bare-bones videos. No commercials is a HUGE plus. I listen to them while driving long distances with my girlfriend.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

You must have premium because there are ads. But I have heard of many folks who listen to it podcast-like, very cool! I'm keeping that in mind when scripting and filming now.

[@MMMNemesis]

Always happy when you upload!

[@rebeccahartshorn7886]

The mating penguins was a nice touch.

[@elkefaber8873]

Chasing records is not a good idea. Sometimes there are bad decisions in a group and people do things they never would do alone. Formation building was a big mistake. Very good video with so much information.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

It was just one record after another, they have to run out at some point!?

[@jill8037]

You have a very clear and concise voice, excellent for story telling... ty 😊

[@stanislavkostarnov2157]

whiteness disorientation is a thing even on the ground... I've had cases back in the day I did somewhat extreme skiing, when I suddenly have to think really hard which way is down, the wind battering against your body at an angle, really disorientates you, even if you know what you are doing... not that that had that much impact here, but... certainly must have only added to the general feeling of confusion also, during Hypoxia, time does not run equally, sometimes it's fast, sometimes it's slow, as parts of your brain are shutting and auto-re-starting, a second can feel like a minute, and the next minute can feel like a second.... that's just what it is.

[@fleafrier1]

Thanks for telling this story so well. I remember the incident as I had started skydiving earlier that year. At the time I thought these guys were highly experienced and was surprised that three of them went in. Several years later I realized how few jumps several hundred really is. When you have 500 you think you’re an expert, but if you make it to 1000 you begin to understand that you still have a lot to learn. I also made sure to always use an AAD. BSBD to these guys.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

It does sound like a lot of jumps and Steve only had about 100 jumps as he was more of a BASE jumper. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Excellent video, well researched! Very tiny nitpic at 8:23, this isn't a skydiver cutaway but a paraglider manual rescue throw (with a Beamer rescue chute) - paraglider pilots need to manually extract them from the harness and throw them, no tiny explosives to do the job for us! the main paragliding wing is still attached (unlike a skydiving mains that just cuts away) and needs to be pulled in :)

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Yes, it's really hard to find a lot of skydiving B-roll. There is so much paragliding out there though! I just don't like showing the same clips over and over. But thx for sharing, it's always great to hear from experienced folks who partake in these sports!

[@JO-lx9bx]

Why some people are obsessed to be the first to do some obscure thing in some obscure way will always baffle me

[@RedStickLouisiana]

Thanks for another well-told story with lots of interesting facts. I tend to agree with the guy who said it was most likely a series of small mistakes that led to tragedy but isn't that almost always the case. You always present the facts without judgment and that is much appreciated.

[@frisk151]

Always have wanted to wingsuit but I know I would just get temped into proximity "flying"... Thanks for another good story, especially one I hadn't heard about

[@humanmerelybeing1966]

That's not flying, it's falling with style.

[@miapdx503]

😂

[@couldntbeme7385]

@@humanmerelybeing1966 flying sounds cooler tho

[@alexshaw8167]

Skydiving absolutely gave me that feeling of flying that I felt in dreams as a kid!

[@tree4408]

Thanks for another story of risk takers one risk too many!

[@harminaprins7602]

I just love how you are able to say how things went horribly wrong, yet without judgment. Where are you from? I’m from the Netherlands.

[@houseofsolomon2440]

I like the events you choose to research & present. For some reason, I'm drawn to many of the same ones you are. They seem to involve extreme situations where human confidence plays a role in the outcomes. Thanks for posting! ☆

[@adventuresgonewrong]

It’s true, it’s a bit if a pattern with some of them.

[@alexshaw8167]

All the first hand accounts in the comment section really bring home how real and how tragic this was

[@scarlettroger1508]

I’ve just found your channel and it’s brilliant! So I subscribed immediately (well, it’d be rude not to) I’m going to spend the rest of the day catching up on all your great content. I mean, who needs to wash up, do laundry and vacuum the house? Chores are so overrated.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Haha I agree, forget the chores and stick around here binge watching for the day!

[@janedee6488]

Always enjoy your videos. I get to experience adventure from the comfort of my own home.

[@lauren9004]

Thank you for such interesting videos! RIP to those who died

[@sara.3042]

I love your channel. Each video is done so well. Keep up the wonderful work! I really look forward to your vids.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Thank you so much!

[@tuttt99]

As an experience jumper I would chalk it up to lack of altitude awareness. It is difficult to visually determine your altitude without reference points, which were lacking on the broad featureless plain at the south pole. IMO to attempt such a jump without an audible altimeter *and* a reliable Automatic Activation Device, (both readily available in1997) is suicide. There is a widely viewed video of an ADD "save" where two guys were messing around and were less than five seconds off the deck when both of their AADs fired, saving their lives. Without AADs they would have ended up like the other jumpers here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/enK9iXlnir9kj8ksi=62QL5jnEZqQM80gF

[@pilotactor777]

Monochromatic surfaces!!! Difficult to judge height over.

[@Ja50nkAt]

Hard to believe these "experienced" skydivers just forgot to check the most vital instrument telling them when to open their chutes, seems likes thats number one priority when doing this activity.

[@alexshaw8167]

Hypoxia.

[@Stephen-gp8yi]

Excellent detailed content!thanks✌️

[@lynniesanders9948]

I keep forgetting to tell you ~ l love your INTRO ~ it’s short but the Bear, the guy on ground , the music ITS PERFECT(a couple channels should take notes)👍

[@maevecrowley8210]

Thanks for another great video. I love how you tell them.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Thanks for watching!

[@OffGridWithChrisandKristie]

Great video! With a shocking ending… the entire time we were thinking, “What is going to happen next?!” One thing is for sure, your channel is always captivating!

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Thanks for watching as always!!

[@toscadonna]

Even though I was a Jumpmaster in my former Army life, skydiving into Antarctica sounds like a no go to me.😂 I’m not jumping in on some polar bears and ice. No freaking way.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

No polar bears down there but definitely a lot of ice!

[@toscadonna]

@@adventuresgonewrong Whoops. I was thinking the Arctic circle for some dumb reason. LOL. I’m not jumping there either. Did you ever hear about the hot air balloon mission (Andrea’s Arctic Balloon Expedition of 1897) to the Arctic circle? They had the same issues with thin air up there as these guys with parachutes had, but they didn’t die instantly. They suffered.

[@RSF-DiscoveryTime]

Man was not meant to climb mountains, he was meant to watch youtube videos of such things. We scaled Everest last week on a bag of Doritos, 4 cans of 7-Up, Candy: Skittles/KitKat/ReesesPieces. Will summit K2 today....it's a lot tougher so we're munching extra-large Doritos to meet this challenge.

[@muffinbra]

🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔

[@PotooBurd]

Who would have guessed 😅 This is so informative!!! Fantastic reporting!🌻🌼🐝

[@timmyturner999_]

Love your videos keep it up you are great wish there was more to watch

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Working on them all the time!

[@maevecrowley8210]

They can't come fast enough 😊

[@TarotLadyLissa]

You totally deserve more subs! I just love your videos!

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Thanks for watching!

[@rebeccar8735]

Another great video

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Appreciate it!

[@randytaylor1814]

Keep pushing ...sooner or later it pushes back

[@ChrisWhalenCPA]

Great story as always! It would answer the stories if you would discuss the cost of some of these adventures that people paid. Like this specific adventure must have been very expensive.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

I did, it was $22k per person.

[@ChrisWhalenCPA]

@@adventuresgonewrong thanks very much! Your videos are fantastic.

[@antcantcook960]

5:52 literally the worst pizza ive ever seen😂

[@adventuresgonewrong]

B-Roll pizza 😂

[@timpalmer7934]

-200 F when they jumped from the plane!? I'm thinking that had A LOT to do with their misfortune. I live in Fairbanks, Alaska and I've experienced -62 and that's brutal. I can't imagine -200.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

I know, I feel the same having experienced the -50's! -200 is unfathomable.

[@stephenblake1519]

Ray Miller was a good friend, I jumped with him many times. I was primarily a photographer so on most jumps with Ray I also took pictures and video. He was quite a ham, not all that experienced (500 jumps or so) but always up for making any jump as exciting and even crazy as possible. One year at a skydiving event which he hosted annually in Tiffin, Ohio, Ray blew my mind by asking me if I would be the videographer on a dive into Antarctica. I thought he was joking for some time but when he shared all the details I realized he was serious. I wasn't one of the sport's top camera guys, just a good jump buddy but he said he felt I could do it. He was insistent and even offered to help pay my way. The trip was ridiculously expensive but even if I wanted to pony up the other half, I told him there were a lot more complexities to such a jump than he seemed to be concerned with. He was confident we could just "wing it" in many areas. He wasn't going to add an ADD to his rig (Automatic deployment device, opens the reserve chute automatically at a preset altitude). He argued with me about the need for supplemental oxygen even though the exit altitude above sea level at the South Pole (17,000-18,000 feet) would clearly require it to avoid possible hypoxia during the jump (which I once experienced jumping from 24,000 feet, even WITH some pre-jump oxygen, and was clearly impaired during freefall.) He even insisted we would have time to put a 4-way together...which I told him was suicide and attempted to explain how dangerously little time would be available with all the complicating factors (thinner air, extreme cold, etc.) but he didn't want to hear it. We parted from that final meeting with him declaring "Okay, Stevie, I'll wear the camera and you'll kiss my ass when I show you the video!" So, when I heard what happened I had a wide range of feelings. First I felt guilt, because if I had gone perhaps I could have influenced a better plan. But it was likely Ray would have insisted on charging forward because that's the guy he was. In retrospect, over many years, it isn't all that shocking now. I knew many great guys like Ray Miller in my dozen-odd years as a skydiver who got killed. They were all bold, brave men who left this life the way they lived it, as joyful, if reckless, adventurers. I, too should have died jumping several times but I made it by a whisker. The lottery of life, I suppose. But watching this video I cried a little. Miss ya, Ray.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Wow, that is a very detailed and moving account of Ray. Thanks for sharing and I'm sorry for your loss.

[@damnjustassignmeone]

You’re a great storyteller. Please keep it up!

[@adventuresgonewrong]

I will, thanks for watching!

[@accuratealloys]

They set two records that day. First to jump there and died on the first jump.

[@sarge420]

Sad story. Cold weather does numerous damage to equipment.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

And those temps were INSANE

[@Nannygoat]

'Nature rules all'! Such a true statement about Antarctica. Its trendy in my area for seniors to skydive in their 70s. Hey but it is Texas no extreme weather in wide open prairies . Hummm after video...maybe not on my bucket list.....but it was a crazy idea...to jump in Antarctica. Cheers. How's the pups ?

[@alexshaw8167]

I can’t imagine how uncomfortable that skydive would be just with the cold alone

[@ArcFixer]

Love your channel. Thanks for the hard work. So far as being the first person to skydive out of a 727 goes, the hijacker DB Cooper parachuted out of a 727 on November 24th, 1971. At night. One might quibble that that he was not "skydiving", but he definitely dove into the sky at night with a parachute on. He exited the 727 via the rear door/stairs, just like these skydivers. So DB Cooper was the first civilian to parachute out of a 727. Not a criticism, just a fun bit of trivia. Cheers

[@adventuresgonewrong]

True, I guess he wins that first then.

[@kcoffey0708]

I really like your video’s, so I’m subscribing to your channel🎉

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Welcome!!

[@beenwandering]

Isn't thinking you don't need oxygen also a sign a hypoxia? I swear I heard that somewhere but I don't know what the research says.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Probably. Since it affects your judgement, you'd probably think you're doing just fine.

[@davidpeters3857]

Excellent content

[@VeganTrove]

Thank you. 🥰

[@drockjr]

I love your channel

[@frankblangeard8865]

People do ridiculous things!

[@MontanaVigilanteExplorer]

02:37 - Just a note that Antarctica is at the SOUTH pole, not the north. Which begs the question has anybody done this in the Arctic? That's much closer to those in the Northern Hemisphere, duh, and curious if those easier logistics allowed some jumps there. All insane to me but a salute to all adventurers. We'd never have got to the Moon without that courage.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

I know, it was just a slip up. I meant the South Pole. And lots have been skydiving at the North Pole.

[@MontanaVigilanteExplorer]

Oh, we all know that. Am an old insufferable proofreader and perfeck myself. wait, what? Did so from being insufferable and momentarily confused; do you know of any Arctic jumps? Thought maybe the mag article could have been a NP trip with the Antarctica one later. PS: very well done, too. I'm trying to keep my mouth/hands shut! Absolutely zero affect on impact.@@adventuresgonewrong

[@purplezlla]

2:30 south pole?

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Yup, my bad.

[@DianaDeLuna]

200 mph in thin air? That answers my question going in whether terminal velocity is different in different parts of the world. 😬

[@troutfisher7182]

RIP, it's true they died doing something they loved. Did you actually say one of the fellows, and his girlfriend, liked to sky dive naked? Seems the odds of landing in thistles or blackberries could be high. If I had enough money to visit Antarctica, I love to spend a few nights in Ernest Shackleton's shack, not skydiving.

[@alfredhitchlock501]

Skies everywhere and they choose Antarctica…never mind

[@jelyfisher]

@2:37 you say "North Pole". Do you mean South Pole?

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Yes, ugh!

[@jelyfisher]

@@adventuresgonewrong I listened to it twice and that's the only catch! Don't worry too much! It's a great documentary!

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Ha thanks, appreciate you folks who point out mistakes kindly. I listened to the thing so many times, i just start to ignore myself. 😂

[@jelyfisher]

​@@adventuresgonewrong​I get that! Part of why I had to listen twice is because once you said North Pole, I kept hearing North Pole instead of South Pole, which wasn't the case when I listened more carefully. Our brains play funny tricks on us sometimes!! I think you can leave it, though. I can delete my comment and nobody would ever know. Part of why I asked in the first place was because Michael might have read an article about the North Pole and still thought he'd like to skydive in Antarctica! 😁

[@adventuresgonewrong]

No worries, leave it up! A few people are noticing so if they see other comments, hopefully that clears it up.All I could do was add a caption with the correct term SOUTH Pole.

[@jakethomason5495]

but thats the south pole, right?

[@LBG-cf8gu]

new sub here. glad i stumbled onto your channel. nicely done

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Welcome aboard!

[@kailaniandi]

Sounds like their egos, followed by a momentary lack of situational awareness got them into trouble.

[@moonwacha]

Omg this wowd me

[@nomadpurple6154]

Given Antarctica has no native human inhabitants. Wouldn't it be better if it was a protected area? Allowing only valid research and not pleasure seekers likely to damage, litter and ultimately destroy it.

[@alexshaw8167]

I agree. It doesn’t seem appropriate to be doing stuff like this there. We should be protecting these areas.

[@mosaic.owl.studios]

I can't decide if the six-hour flight to the south pole would be the most boring flight ever or the most beautiful/scenic flight ever.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Thanks for the support, as always!!

[@Spamhard]

Really reinforces my over cautiousness. Sometimes I get ribbed at work for following the safety rules so closely as there's some danger in the work I do (heavy loads and vehicles around.) Ironically I'm not a stickler for rules overall, but I always figure when it comes to safety, they tend to be written in blood. People get complacemnt when they have experience and I figure that's why some of them didn't bother with the safety back ups, but imo thats when you MOST need them. Doesn't matter if you're on your first dive or you 1000th, anything that can mitigate risk is almost always worth carrying. Rip to those divers. Sounds like thee opnes that were still in the diving position means they didn't even know what was coming anyway, which is some comfort.

[@evilcat7661]

Wouldn’t cold air more dense and thusly make them fall slower?

[@M00Nature]

Yes, cold air would make them fall more slowly than warm air at the same altitude. The problem in Antarctica would be the very thin air (high altitude and lower air pressure), which would make the jumpers fall more quickly. The cold would cause other problems.

[@prozacandcaffeine]

Skydive the North Pole ad? And he applied because he wanted to go Antarctica? And he already did North Pole? I'm a bit confused.

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Did I say the ad said North Pole? Should have been South Pole! He did the North Pole earlier in 1997.

[@prozacandcaffeine]

@@adventuresgonewrong Yes :) around 2:33..

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Oops! Thx for letting me know!

[@prozacandcaffeine]

@@adventuresgonewrong

[@melissaharris3389]

At such high altitude they were essentially doing a HALO jump and should have had oxygen and the automatic openers.

[@BreakingFreeOffGrid]

Yep! Just another reason why I will never jump from a perfectly good plane. Very tragic! You’re stories could actually save lives…just saying.

[@LeolaGlamour]

You would neva(yes neva) see me doing it but its relatively safe, I really think skydiving in Antarctica sounds a little insane.

[@KellyHill-gg9xr]

Didnt DB Cooper jump out of a passenger jet? Or arethey just saying a 727 in particular?

[@adventuresgonewrong]

Yes he was technically the first to jump out of a 727 and the 1992 jump was done in recognition of that first jump. It was called the World FreeFall convention and ran for many years.

[@_Fluorescent_]

This seems like a really really bad idea. I mean to each their own, but the risks are insane.

[@DanaX09]

Why didn’t the two guys who crashed without chutes have an emergency chute deployed?

[@adventuresgonewrong]

They didn't have the AAD that opens the reserve chute automatically. Why? Who knows.

[@volusize]

Love your hair mate 🤩🤙🤙🙏❤️

[@tomyoung4701]

At what point does it seem like a good idea to attempt a formation for such a dangerous jump. My god

[@Naldo411]

Loss of altitude awareness 🤦🏽‍♂️ damn.

[@mello3214]

Not something 😅I ever wanted to do! This was just tragic.

[@ChristelVinot]

7:57 heyoooo

[@jeffreymorris1752]

Thin air at 8000 ft?

[@M00Nature]

Some people are big risk takers and others not so much. With the thinner air and extreme cold (and danger of hypoxia), I think it is crazy not to use a device that automatically opens the reserve chute at a given altitude. That's a terrible price to pay for not having a backup system in case you get sick up there. So sorry they lost their lives. I hope others can learn from their mistake.