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Russia investigates horrific 'zorb' ride death | Russia investigates horrific 'zorb' ride death |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The Russian authorities have launched an investigation after a man was killed during a ride down a ski slope inside a giant inflatable ball. | The Russian authorities have launched an investigation after a man was killed during a ride down a ski slope inside a giant inflatable ball. |
Denis Burakov, 27, died after the ball - called a zorb - veered off course and fell into a deep gorge in the North Caucasus. His friend was badly injured. | Denis Burakov, 27, died after the ball - called a zorb - veered off course and fell into a deep gorge in the North Caucasus. His friend was badly injured. |
The horrific incident at the Dombai ski resort on 3 January was filmed. | The horrific incident at the Dombai ski resort on 3 January was filmed. |
The authorities are trying to establish whether the death was caused "through providing unsafe services". | The authorities are trying to establish whether the death was caused "through providing unsafe services". |
They say they want to question three owners of the zorb ride, who are reportedly on the run. | They say they want to question three owners of the zorb ride, who are reportedly on the run. |
Extreme sport | Extreme sport |
A video shot by one of Mr Burakov's friends shows how the zorb first rolls down the intended path - but then suddenly bounces off course. | A video shot by one of Mr Burakov's friends shows how the zorb first rolls down the intended path - but then suddenly bounces off course. |
A man waiting for the zorb at the bottom of the hill is then seen desperately trying to catch it, before the transparent ball falls down the nearly 1km-deep gorge below Mount Mussa-Achitara. | A man waiting for the zorb at the bottom of the hill is then seen desperately trying to catch it, before the transparent ball falls down the nearly 1km-deep gorge below Mount Mussa-Achitara. |
The ball finally stopped on a frozen lake. | The ball finally stopped on a frozen lake. |
Mr Burakov died of his injuries, and his friend Vladimir Shcherbov, 33, remains at hospital. | Mr Burakov died of his injuries, and his friend Vladimir Shcherbov, 33, remains at hospital. |
Zorbing - effectively throwing yourself down a slope in a giant ball - was invented in New Zealand in 2000 and is now a popular extreme adventure sport around the world. | Zorbing - effectively throwing yourself down a slope in a giant ball - was invented in New Zealand in 2000 and is now a popular extreme adventure sport around the world. |
It involves a giant plastic ball, which has two skins - one inside the other with air pumped in between. This acts as a shock absorber for the rider, who is in the middle of the ball. | |
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