Image via YouTube
If you are dumb enough to take a dare and jump into the Thames by way of Tower Bridge you are going to have an extremely bad time.
Now jumping into a large, frigid body of water from high atop a bridge doesn't sound like anything we could be convinced to do. But if you ever feel the grip of curiosity, take a gander at the following video, which Mashable's Tim Chester reported on Friday.
Now we have to warn that the video contains NSFW language as well as NSFL (Not Safe For Life) practices. Shah Faisal Shinwari, who features on the YouTube channel Carnage, decided to take a leap from Tower Bridge. Now normally we wouldn't publicize such an idiotic act, but the rest of the video sums up nicely why you should never perform anything remotely similar:
Shinwari may not have felt the pangs of regret on the way down, but we have to assume he did the moment his body hit the water.
In a terrifying instant, it looks like he stops moving for a moment. That might be explained by the way he entered the water and the shock of the temperature. While that's pure speculation, The London Evening Standard spoke to RNLI's (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) community safety manager, Tony Wafer, who offers more on the real dangers of leaping into the Thames.
Wafer states the following: "He was extremely lucky the outcome wasn't more serious. We're glad this young man regrets his actions, but we would strongly discourage anyone from doing anything like this. Jumping into the Thames from a bridge is extremely dangerous. The shock of cold water can make it very difficult to swim and strong currents can rapidly sweep people away."
Shinwari explained the scary situation as it played out, via London Evening Standard, "When I dropped into the water, I couldn't breathe. It was the stupidest idea in the world."
The YouTuber continued, "It was low tide but I thought 'low tide' meant low current, which is even more stupid. If I'd jumped properly my leg would be broken and I would have died."
RNLI tweeted the following video to illustrate the duress suffered by wading in similar waters:
Shinwari reiterates on YouTube that this was "stupidest idea ever," and continues in the comments that he will donate "everything I earn from this Tower Bridge Jump to @RNLI."
The Tower Bridge continues to be one of the more iconic landmarks around the world, resting above the Thames, which is equally magnificent.
We ask that you respect both, especially the latter, because the awe-inspiring power can turn a nice day in London into a nightmare.
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