The diving tower is as much a part of an outdoor pool as a rollercoaster is at a funfair. But the higher it is, the more dangerous the jump is.
For some, the ten-meter tower in the swimming pool is an absolute no-go, for others the jump is a test of courage or even an opportunity to make a name for themselves. The awe of heights is not without reason, jumping from the ten-meter tower is associated with risk. Inexperienced people in particular can sustain serious injuries, which in the worst case can be fatal. On Monday, such a fatal swimming accident occurred in Bremen. The 23-year-old had probably sustained internal injuries during his jump, according to the police.
What makes jumping from a ten-meter tower so dangerous? Which type of jump is the safest? And how can you prepare for such a jump? An overview of the most important points.
What happens to the body when jumping from a 10-meter tower?
It’s just water, isn’t it? No way! “From this height, the water is as hard as concrete,” says Joachim Rödig, chief physician of the orthopedics and trauma surgery clinic at the Maria Hilf Hospital in Mönchengladbach. In an interview with the “Rheinische Post” (RP), he warns: “When jumping from a ten-meter tower, extreme force develops.” If you land on the water incorrectly, you could sustain serious injuries – “similar to a motorcycle accident.” Bones could break, skin could burst, and internal injuries and bruised chests are also possible.
How common are injuries caused by jumping into water from great heights?
There are no figures for this. However, statistics from the German Life Saving Association (DLRG) show that there were at least 378 swimming accidents resulting in drowning deaths in 2023, 23 more than in the previous year. Most cases (90 percent) occurred in inland waters – including lakes (138) and rivers (135). The DLRG therefore warns against swimming in unguarded waters. Deaths were least common in swimming pools. In 2023 there were eight.
Who shouldn’t jump from the ten-meter tower?
Anyone who is inexperienced in jumping should not jump directly from the ten-meter tower. “Overestimating yourself is dangerous,” said Roland Scheidemann of the German Life Saving Association (DLRG) in an interview with the “RP”. Anyone who is unsure should be sensible and climb back. Every jumper makes a ten-meter jump at their own risk. Even if supervisors can ensure that the pool is clear and only one person is on the tower at a time, Scheidemann says it is still “life-threatening if someone tries a head dive that is not routine.”
What is the best way to prepare for a jump from the ten meter hill?
Matti Büchner is the head of the diving department at the Berlin TSC and trains the professionals as a national base coach. The dpa asked him how best to approach the first jump from the ten-meter board. He recommends slowly feeling your way forward – from the one-meter board to the three-meter board and so on. A strategy that is also used by competitive athletes until they have enough body tension to dive straight in. He explains: “From a ten-meter board, you hit the water at around 50 km/h, that’s a force.”
Which body position is the safest when jumping?
The jump is safest when it is performed straight and with body tension: arms close to the body, legs closed, toes pointed. This offers the least resistance when hitting the water. But the basic rule is: a jump, no matter which variant, must be performed cleanly in order to minimize the risk. A belly or back flop hurts even from a one-meter board.
How dangerous are other jumping variations?
How hard water can be can be felt even at low heights – especially if you do a belly flop instead of an elegant head dive. An unfortunate landing on the water’s surface can quickly become painful. When jumping into the water, the smaller the body surface, the better. But what is the safest? A scientist tested what forces act on the body and what injuries can be expected if you dive into the water head, hands or feet first. For the experiment, dummies were 3D printed and “shot” into the water. Sensors determined what forces were at work on impact. High-speed cameras documented the experiment.
The safest of the three jump variants? No surprise: the “candle”, i.e. the straight jump with the feet first. According to the study, the risk of injury only increases from a height of 15 meters if you choose this jump variant. It then becomes particularly dangerous for the knees. If you want to avoid skin injuries, you should stretch out your toes and not “hit the water surface with flat soles”. With the classic head dive, where the palms of your hands are placed together above the head, the risk of injury increases from twelve meters. From this height, collarbone fractures are therefore possible. To avoid shoulder injuries, tense your arms and shoulders when diving. The most dangerous jumps are head first, with the arms close to the body. The researchers’ results suggest that such a jump from a height of just eight meters can lead to considerable injuries. Accordingly, the neck and spinal cord could be dangerously affected. This is shown by comparisons with pressure forces that are known to cause bone and muscle lesions.
Does it make a difference if you jump from the tower platform or a board?
A tower platform is fixed, boards are movable. This means that a lot of body tension is required in the middle of the body. Both the abdominal and back muscles should be tense when jumping from the board. Otherwise, you may “slump” which in turn can have a negative effect on the execution of the jump – for example, the jumper may end up sideways or leaning forward.
Can you fly too far by taking a run-up and land on the edge of the pool?
A ten-person diving pool must be at least 13.5 meters wide from the edge of the diving tower. To jump over this, the run-up speed would have to be 30 km/h. Nevertheless, the danger from heights is great, especially if you lose control of your body and hit the water in an unfavorable body position. When running up, you should also always make sure that there is no one in the water you could jump on. Once in the air, the jump cannot be undone. It is best to have someone give you a signal when the water is clear. Expert Büchner advises against running off a diving board at all. “They have a nasty anti-slip coating, and you can get a lot of scrapes if you fall,” he explains. Instead, you should stand at the front of the board and jump two or three times on the spot like on a trampoline – with the appropriate body tension, of course – before jumping into the water.
Why can some people jump from great heights without getting hurt?
Technique! Whether you’re a professional high divers or an adventurous cliff divers, body tension is everything. This makes the body more compact. A trained diving position is also important. The highest documented height from which a person has ever jumped is 58.8 meters. It was the extreme athlete Laso Schaller who jumped from a waterfall in Ticino. When he dived into the water, he was traveling at a speed of 123 km/h. Schaller landed in foaming water, which was less hard than a smooth surface, but he still tore his medial ligament.
How dangerous is diving after the jump?
A professional diving pool is five meters deep. An outdoor pool can be shallower. Expert Büchner therefore recommends checking the depth before jumping. If the pool is five meters deep, the body is usually slowed down enough when diving in; if the water is shallower, he recommends helping. To do this, spread your arms and legs slightly away from your body to increase the resistance. But be careful: only do it underwater.
Source: , ,, , , with material from Dpa
Source: Stern
I’m Caroline, a journalist and author for 24 Hours Worlds. I specialize in health-related news and stories, bringing real-world impact to readers across the globe. With my experience in journalism and writing in both print and online formats, I strive to provide reliable information that resonates with audiences from all walks of life.
