mostar bridge jump injuries mostar bridge jump injuries

I dont say this lightly please make sure this is something you want to do and something you are comfortable with. You can read our privacy policy here. The water is always cold which can trigger heart issues. The original bridge stood for 427 years before it was destroyed in 1993 during the Croat-Bosniak War. You become a lifetime member of the Mostar Dive Club on completion of your dive. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. After the brave divers complete the plunge the event ends with some divers who jump with torches there is an after-party in honor of all the jumpers. Famous for the old bridge of Mostar "Stari Most", which spans the river Neretva, and for the daring bridge jumper, countless visitors flock to visit this charming town. Bruises, dislocated joints, broken bones and compressed spines are common injuries for jumpers with poor technique. I am planning on doing this if possible, do any of you have any experience with this and willing to share. Mostar is 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. Stari Most (lit. After a few minutes, a small guy came to the front, climbed over the railings and launched himself into the air. Zac ess The Mostar Bridges height is around 29 meters in full length and is approximately 4 meters wide. Your email address will not be published. The Stari Most and adjoining areas are a valuable historical, cultural and architectural treasure to the world worth preserving, and fortunately, this was recognized by UNESCO, and they took action. I'm 70 years of age, in good shape and there's still one scary moment to do. Still up to it and ready to leap? I should point out, that the jump in question is around 24m in height. Hum. He didn't stick the landing and dislocated his arm. Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar was declared as Unesco World Heritage Site in 2005. I didn't want anyone thinking that I was thinking of jumping. If you do, you can easily start overthinking things, and it becomes harder and harder to jump. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Home Blog Adventures Mostar Bridge Jump: Read This Before Jumping Off Mostar Bridge! In 2015, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series was held in Mostar. Most tourists prefer to jump feet first, which is safer if youre not super confident in diving head first. Official annual bridge-jumping competitions started in 1968 and are still held each summer. Im Hayden I am a backpacker, solo traveller and amateur photographer. Mostar Bridge Jump Is Jumping Worth It? more, Bosnia and Herzegovina Destination Experts. Hamish, in particular, is hmm an unremarkable physical specimen (sorry!). All in all, it doesn't take long from booking the jump to actually doing it. But if you want to do the jump yourself, well, heres everything I learned from my experience. Keep your form: be careful not to lean backward or forward. If not, its just not for you. So, for 25 euros, the majority of which goes on the maintenance of the bridge, you get the opportunity to join the 24-metre club. Your email address will not be published. Forget the Mile High Club, how many people can claim theyve joined the 24 metre-high club in Bosnia? If you have travelled through the Balkans at all, there is a good chance you visited Mostar. Pretty good. The Mostar bridge jump in Bosnia costs 25 euros per person. A smaller Ottoman-era stone-arch bridge named Kriva cuprija, the Crooked Bridge, crosses one of the tributaries of Neretva just a stone throw away from the Old Bridge. In 2004, he won the title for the first time. Evidently, they acknowledge the risks of bridge jumping and take great pride in their courage. The injuries, such as broken bones, could get you into serious trouble in the water. 1218 mushie mushie . Here is the best travel insurance for the Balkans. We then got invited into the Mostar Dive Club to sign the admissions book and receive our certificates. Bosnia and Herzegovina. Severe bruising is the most common injury, but too many people also tell about broken bones, dislocated limbs, and even spine injuries. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Driving from Sarajevo to Mostar takes around 1,5-2 hours, while the buses take around 2,5 hours. Special mention to my lovely friends for the photos and video. Thank you for sharing. */, Firstly, there was anAustralian T.V show titled. Looking back on such an event, if indeed I had the luxury of doing so at all, undoubtably I would have described it as a near death experience. Here you can practice your jump technique under the watchful eye of an experienced diver. When calculating risks, I usually ask how many people have died doing so (that was my main concern with Victoria Falls Bungee, as well, though I ended up doing it anyway). The bridge was originally a wooden bridge but around 1557 Suleiman the Magnificent ordered constructions so the old bridge would be replaced with a stone bridge by the architectural work of Mimar Hayruddin. At least one of the Mostar bridge jumping deaths was caused by heart attack: the contrast between a hot summer day and nearly freezing water can take its toll even for a healthy person. What To Wear On A Longhaul Flight. Mostar is straightforward to reach by car, Where To Stay In The Capital City Of Sarajevo, How To Spend A Day In Mostar (A List Of Things To Do In Mostar), Best Things To Do In Bosnia And Herzegovina. Very lucky to have my jump captured from multiple angles. After jumping off a 3ft bench a handful of times to prove I could do it, I asked Igor if I had a good technique and if I was ready to jump off the bridge; he said I jumped like a horse, that I would never be ready to jump off the bridge, but if I still wanted to do it then now was the time. But I believe they are happy to let you jump even if theres just one person. Publicado en junio 16, 2022 por junio 16, 2022 por In a previous career I was an engineer, now I am trying to make my way in the world as a travel writer andblogger. You are like gazelle leaping into the air! I felt pumped up, elated, and I wanted to do it again. What To Pack For Greece It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Readmy backpacking travel to guide Mostar formore information. After nine years of labor, the Old Bridge of Mostar was finally completed in 1566. He claims that Mostar and the Old Bridge would become unique in the world. We travel the Balkans seeking out food, accommodation and the best things to do in the Balkans so youll save time travel planning & travel like a local. As a means to avoid jumping, I told myselfthat I would only jump if I found another traveller to do it with. During the summertime, the diving club members take turns in jumping off the bridge for money. The Old Bridge of Mostar is among the most important Islamic architectural structures in the Balkans. I was hopeful for a similar result. The other reason I knew all about the bridge jump is that I had spoken to another traveller only a month earlier while hiking the Meteorain Greece. They will tell you to be calm and go whenever youre ready. How long did it take to train and then get approved for the jump? The story goes that young men jumped off the bridge to impress passing dignitaries in hopes of earning a little money and proving their manhood. A good party will definitely help cure the sting from that icy water. But the worst was gone in probably 2 days. I arrived in Mostar and began talking to other travellers about the bridge jump. June 2, 2022 by by If everyone else jumped off a bridge, would you do it too? Check out our article on this gorgeous trip by train from Sarajevo to Mostar! In turn, as long as you do what they say, then you should have no problems with your jump! The alarm turned on in Mostar, because there are no younger generations. and our Following this quote, the spokesperson of Mostar jumpers Saa Oruevi, saod that the jumping styles, described by the famous travel writer who is known worldwide, are preserved until today. Is this safe? A Canadian girl had joined us from one of the other hostels. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The answer to this question will never be, yes, it is 100% safe!. But lets dig deeper into the history and tragic legends of Stari Most! I think it combines its striking Ottoman architecture, the beautiful blue Neretva river it crosses, the divers who leap from the jump into the depths of the river, and the long history which has seen it destroyed and then restored from the rubble. The original Stari Most managed to stand for staggering 427 years, through two world wars. Watch YouTube videos. He recalls his beginnings, when he was five or six and began to jump from, two or three meters high cliffs, and this height increased over the years. The only justification I had for not jumping had disappeared and along with it, any chance of maintainingany respect within the Balkan backpacking community. Bosnia and Herzegovina Tourism . Now, this is not something you should decide to do willy-nilly because the waters are dangerous, and many people have been injured or even killed by merely choosing to try it for themselves. If you have you been in Mostar, please share with us your best tips for exploring and photographing the Old Bridge and surrounding Old Town of Mostar! Some jump steeply, another sitting in a Turkish way, some jump into the water in pair, or three persons at once; and they all happily go out on the shore, ascending to the rocks, they go to the end of the bridge to receive the gifts of the vizier and the champion wrote famous travel writer Evliya elebi while observing jumpers from the Old Bridge in Mostar. Growing in confidence, I began explaining to other people that if . I've seen videos of people jump of it and read stories. That was about 5 years ago. Signing the guestbook. Theres only one really big but: locals told us that jumping feet first might cause hitting legs at the bottom. All rights reserved. Climbing the railing. Hows the jump, then? i've been to Mostar before and walked the bridge. The Old Bridge stood for 427 years, until it was destroyed on 9 November 1993 by Croatian Defence Council during the Croat-Bosniak War. Better yet, as you come back above the surface, you are greeted by dozens of spectators clapping and cheering you for your effort. Hayden You might want to read the next chapter about the hazards of jumping off Mostar Bridge or any bridge before making the decision. I want to jump it. It was lightly drizzling. What did he do wrong? We went on a daytrip whilst staying in Dubrovnik. If they say it's okay to jump, then do it! Your rational mind takes over very quickly. Nice weather for the occasion. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Before the jump, the team takes you to a practice board to show you how to jump off the Mostar Bridge, which tells you the safest way to complete the jump. We need you around! The town is surrounded by mountains. They dive club will take you to a spot a hundred metres downstream from the Stari Most where a ~10m platform is set up. Dozens gather every year to take the plunge. With the help of UNESCO, Mostar Bridge was rebuilt in 2004, stone by stone and according to the original architecture. First up, you need to speak to the diving club. Sadly, the original Stari Grad Mostar bridge was destroyed in the Bosnian War in 1993. I only jumped with the professional supervision of someone who does this day in day out. In June 1992, the Serbs destroyed all other bridges in Mostar but Stari Most, leaving it as the only gateway across Neretva. Next page 1 2 3 Fatalities happen and the risk of injury is quite high. Let me know in the comments below! The art of bridge diving is entertaining to watch, so why not to support a diver and the club. The plunge is about 78 feet from the top of the arched bridge to the incredibly cold waters below. And thats when I launched myself off the side of the bridge into the river below. Climbing over the railing to get in position was a strange feeling. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Once he has enough money and he judges the time is right, hell put on a bit of a show. The tradition of jumping off the bridge in Mostar began in 1664. I'll leave this to the professionals. He says that unfortunately this year, none of the long-standing jumpers will dare to perform swallow flight. This was something I had to do; I had a feeling that this was an after-dinner story I could dine out on for years to come. (Water level? But Mostar is gorgeous and one of the most culturally fascinating cities I've been to. It it Ill tell you all about what its like doing this jump, and whether there have been any Mostar bridge deaths. What To Pack For Croatia Every year there are two or three new jumpers from Serbia, Montenegro, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, but unfortunately not from Mostar. Water temperature hardly ever reaches 10 degrees, so it will be a cold dip for sure. The shape of the bridge itself also has its own story, it is said that it represents life that the bridge represents one-half of the circle, and its reflection in water is the other half of the circle, and this whole picture represents life. If youre a thrill-seeker and figuring out what to do in Mostar, bridge jumping is definitely an amazing experience. The Old Bridge of Mostar has been an essential part of Mostars history right from the beginning. Yet I was climbing over the railing, so that I could willingly jump into the river. For its time, the bridge was technologically advanced for a single-span stone bridge. Then, just do exactly what youve been taught so far and step off. Once I got to Mostar bridge, I started talking to a couple of the local divers at the Mostari Diving Club to find out some more information. So what makes the Old Bridge of Mostar so unique? Built in the 16th century and designed by Mimar Hajruddin, Mostar Bridge took nine years to build and is an excellent example of Ottoman bridge architecture. When considering whether to attempt this jump, I and other Australians find this fact quitepersuasive. It is beautiful and the area around it is also beautiful. I wanted to enjoy it, to feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins, but with the river hurtling towards me at a startling rate and my arms and legs all over the place, all I could think was, this is going to hurt.. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. Mostar was named after the bridge keepers who guarded the Stari Most in the medieval times. It documents a couple of Aussie comedians and their travels around Europe and the mischief they get into. Mostar and notably the Mostar Bridge, or Stari Most as its known locally, is one of Bosnia and Herzegovinas major tourist attractions. Head to my About page! It really wasn't long, because it's not much training. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. From that height, you hit the water at 80 km/h. Thanks! After all, jumping of Mostar Bridge is a 450-year old tradition. Just like its big brother, also this ancient bridge was also destroyed. i really enjoyed.thank for sharing such a amazing trip with us. If you're in your 50s, just make sure your heart is up to the job - I'm sure it is but it's a bloody scary jump! As straight as possible. This technique allows you to remain perfectly straight the whole way down and to counteract any rotation on the way down. Make sure someone is on hand with a camera! 100 meters from Stari Most. The scars of war run still deep and bullet-ridden facades can be seen around Mostar, especially in the eastern part. By the 1550s Ottoman . Youll also be a lifetime member of Mostar Diving Club meaning that you can jump off Stari Most as many times as you wish! Do you try this without any guidance! Local ikari know the art of bridge jumping and the risks. Well of course, that evening while out drinking I met a few new travellers and one explained that he was going to jump tomorrow. We thought, wow how lucky was that that we turned up and straight away there was somebody on the bridge ready to jump. Thanks! You can jump off the Mostar Old Bridge with permission of the Dive Club to the right of the bridge. I'd definitely following the diving club's rules and advice on this one. Every diver has been recorded in a ledger for posterity. It was ethnically rooted civil war, were neighbors and loved ones were set against each other. Mostar's Crooked Bridge, Bosnia and Hertzegovina Is Mostar Haunted by Ghosts of War and Tragic Incidents? If you do the whole thing and pay the full 30 Euros, then be aware that you will also become an official member of the Mostar Dive Club! According to history books, the first person jumped off Mostar bridge already in 1664. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The bridge, which spans the Neretva River, marks the center of the Mostar Old City. It has two towers that historically housed the Mostari (bridge keepers). During the Bosnian conflict, 100000-200000 people were slaughtered, mainly on the streets of Sarajevo, Mostar, Srebrenica, and Banja Luka. You must hit water properly to avoid injuries: thats what the training is all about. His technique was pretty good. Did you recover alright? I am afraid that swallow style will disappear. One of its last roles had been to allow Muslim defenders of the "left bank" cross the river and take supplies to their supporters and the population that had remained there. The surrounding Stari Grad, the Old City of Mostar, is a perfect example of a historically important multicultural town with pre-Ottoman, eastern Ottoman, and Mediterranean architecture. This is a bucket list adventure for me. Hopefully they discourage you from taking a leap. Answer 1 of 5: I've seen some reports that there is a certification course for tourists to jump in Mostar. Is this safe? Mostar Bridge. As is normal with Stari Most bridge jumps, as soon someone is about to jump tourists begin to crowd around, mostly out of morbid curiosity. Even the best ice cream in town is served right beside Stari Most and best enjoyed on the bridge. In fact, they are due to return later this year in August. I was preparing myself for jumps all year round. Before the wooden supports of Old Bridge were removed, Mimar Hajruddin had already started digging his own grave. I've seen videos of people jump of it and read stories. Primarily because neither Hamish nor Andyare athletes. Here is a list of things to do in Mostar Bosnia and Herzegovina one of the most diverse places in Europe. Hell eventually reach his climax of wowing the crowd with a death-defying Stari Most bridge jump. Mostar bridge jump - A man getting ready to jump off the Mosta Stari Most. When we arrived back up, a large crowd of spectators had gathered. OK, now weve covered a few basic concerns; lets get onto the juicy bits, how you go about jumping the Stari Most. We blog about the best travel destinations in the Balkans. Over the years, many injuries and a few deaths have been reported, especially during years when the water was shallow or when the jumpers did not have assistants below to help them to shore. We took a day trip out to Mostar from Split. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Including, Croatia, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina,, Montenegro, Slovenia, Turkey, Macedonia, Romania, Kosovo and Serbia. My first reaction is, why do I need to pay? The last of which he did without clothes. The only way to do this part is instantly. The Ottoman sultan was so tired of unsuccessful bridge building attempts that he threatened to execute every failing architect. They are there to jump in and bring you back to shore if, for any reason, you do hurt yourself. The tradition of jumping is 451 years old. One of the reasons I gotten myself into this situation is because of this guy, I was going to make sure I had as many witnesses as possible, him included. The Mostar bridge jump height is between 20m and 26m Being a symbol for the town and for the whole of Bosnia, as soon as the war was over there were meticulous plans to rebuild it exactly the same as it was before the war, right down to the smallest detail. It may not surprise you to hear that he was also Australian. Terribly unsafe. I'm Macca & I run the multiple award-winning blog An Adventurous World. Legs together, hands covering my nuts. So I hope, there will be an opportunity to forefill my last dream @Macca Sherifi, my last experience was a cliff dive from about 15 meters at Kamenjak. Any thoughts on that? It was such an amazing experience, and in nearly ten years only about 750 foreigners have jumped off Stari Most, so its one of the most unique things to do in Mostar. The Mostar Bridge was destroyed during the war in the former Yugoslavia, between 1991 (Beginning of Armed Conflict ) and 1995 (Dayton Agreement). Of course, tourists are briefed for jumping off safely and accustoming their bodies to the cold. 'Old Bridge'), also known as Mostar Bridge, is a rebuilt 16th-century Ottoman bridge in the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina that crosses the river Neretva and connects the two parts of the city. As Ive said, doing this Bosnia bridge jump can be really dangerous if not done right, Practice practice practice Theres nothing wrong with doing little practice jumps over and over again to ensure you feel comfortable. Interestingly the old bridge area is fascinating as the bridge with its Ottoman buildings, which houses cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops. Many locals can tell you openly that its definitely not safe to jump off Mostar Bridge. But given that I was about to jump into a river that sits at about 10C, not grounds for cancelling the jump. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Bizarre Globe Hopper. We never had worst situation when it comes to young people. My legs were thrown up over my head once I hit the water. Over the course of the next three days, I didn't meet any other travellers that were planning on jumping. 2 of 3 Picts They know how to tease the crowds to gather the next 25 to qualify a jump. If anything goes wrong for whatever reason, multiple dive club members are around to help.