Hong Kong (CNN) Some thrill-seekers describe bungee jumping as a near-death experience, but few come quite close to one man who managed to survive his confinement in Thailand.
Footage of the horrifying ordeal circulated this week after the 39-year-old tourist from Hong Kong came forward with his story.
The tourist, who asked to use only his first name Mike to avoid online harassment, dived with a swan from a 10-story-high platform in Pattaya City while on vacation in January this year.
Fortunately, the jump was made over a body of water. The bungee rope snapped milliseconds before Mike neared the bottom of his jump, slamming him into the water below.
“I landed on my left side, so the injuries were more serious there,” Mike told CNN. “It was as if someone had hit me really badly.”
His diving was witnessed by friends who were with him at Changthai Thappraya Safari and Adventure Park.
Located in northwest Pattaya, the amusement park offers activities ranging from ziplines to live shooting.
Hong Kong tourist Mike resurfaces after his bungee cord snaps during a jump in Pattaya, Thailand.
Mike said he originally went to the park to try the shooting range, but got up the courage to do a bungee jump after his friends dared him.
“It was really loud so I closed my eyes,” Mike said. “I was planning on opening my eyes again when it bounced back.” “I realized the rope had snapped when I opened my eyes and was surrounded by water.”
He managed to emerge and swim though his feet were tied together by the bottom half of a cut bungee cord.
He said: “If a person does not know how to swim, he will be in big trouble.”
Mike said the park reimbursed the cost of his jump and paid for the x-ray and ultrasound in Thailand.
Nithit Intim, the park’s founder, confirmed the incident and said it was the first time he had seen the umbilical cord cut.
After the rope snapped, our staff managed to capture him [mike] He immediately got out of the water, and asked him if he was okay.” [Mike] He said he felt bruised. So we took him to the hospital.”
Intim said Mike signed a liability waiver before making the jump. He also sent a photo of what he said was a signed waiver, as well as copies of medical bills in Thailand.
“Our staff made it clear that in the event of any mishap or accident, our company will reimburse medical bills. But a customer cannot claim reimbursement for any other type of expense,” Intim said.
He added that the park would be willing to pay any other direct medical expenses in Hong Kong if receipts were provided.