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We've featured some
of the wildest
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life-and-death
stories ever told,
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but these, the most
outlandish of them all,
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like a frequent flyer whose
trip took a serious detour.
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One minute, Vesna's doing
her flight attendant duties
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at 33,000 feet.
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The next minute,
a bomb goes off.
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The plane is blown
into multiple pieces.
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Passengers are getting
sucked out of the aircraft,
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and it begins to
take a free fall.
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Or a high-stakes
showdown in midair.
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They're going to shoot at
each other in hot air balloons
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over the city.
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It's pretty much guaranteed
that at least one of them,
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probably both of them,
are going to die.
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How about the one
where a beloved pet
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becomes a deadly projectile?
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The dog is getting closer
and closer to this balcony.
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It falls the 13 floors.
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These are the most
shocking dances with death.
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So strange, they are
truly unbelievable.
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In the early 1900s,
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one man sets out to change
the future of flight
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and ends up forever leaving
his mark on aviation history.
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Franz Reichelt is an Austrian
tailor living in Paris.
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He makes dresses for a living,
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but his real passion is this
new, budding field of flying.
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In 1903, the Wright brothers
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take their first
heavier-than-air powered flight,
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and everyone is aviation
crazy, especially the French,
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'cause the French also
invented the hot air balloon.
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In 1910, flying
is extremely dangerous.
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He sees all of these pilots
dying in these test flights,
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so he wants to do
something to help out.
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And up until this time,
parachuting technology
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has really only been used
for jumping out of balloons
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and very high altitudes.
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So there's this push to find
new parachute technology,
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much lighter weight,
for pilots themselves
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to be able to jump
out at lower altitudes
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when they're taking these test
flights around the country.
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Coincidentally, a
French aviation organization
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offers a hefty prize
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to anyone who can
create a smaller chute.
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So, Franz decides
to enter this contest
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and take his expertise as a
tailor, using silk and rods,
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and he ends up
developing a wingsuit.
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It looks like a Batman suit.
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It looks like something out of
a futuristic superhero movie.
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More peculiar
than his design
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is his method for testing it.
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He puts it on a dummy and
tosses it from the window
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of his fifth-floor
Paris apartment.
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Unsatisfied with the
results, Franz decides
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there's only one way to
truly know if it works.
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He puts
on his own wingsuit
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and climbs out of his
fifth-floor window,
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and he breaks his leg.
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But Franz is onto something.
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He goes, "Ah-ha-ha-ha,
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I didn't give my
wingsuit enough time
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to gather enough air
to create resistance.
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I need to go higher."
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Luckily, he's in Paris,
and at this point in time,
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the tallest structure on
Earth is the Eiffel Tower.
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He starts petitioning the
Paris police to allow him
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to throw winged dummies
off of the Eiffel Tower
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as part of a test
for his new suit.
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Surprisingly, not
only do the French authorities
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grant permission, but
it becomes big news.
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Franz is so excited to
show the world this wingsuit.
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He puts out a press release
that he has found the solution
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of aviation safety.
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On the cold morning
of February 4th, 1912,
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Franz arrives at the
Eiffel Tower, sans dummy.
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It's Franz himself,
dressed in his wingsuit.
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Everyone goes,
"Where's the dummy?"
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and he goes, "There
is no dummy."
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From this moment on,
Franz Reichelt becomes known as
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"The Flying Tailor".
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His friends are
pleading with him,
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"You're not gonna
do this, are you?
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You're not gonna actually
do this yourself?"
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But Franz is convinced
the suit will work,
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and he's gonna prove it.
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Franz is leaning
forward on the edge
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of the parapet of
the Eiffel Tower.
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He hesitates
for about 40 seconds.
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He seems to actually
have second thoughts
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for the first time
in this story.
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But then Franz sees
the crowd below him,
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and he waves and he
says, "A bientot,"
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which means, "I'll
see you soon."
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And then he jumps.
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The parachute
never fully opens.
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Two seconds after jumping,
Franz hits the ground and dies,
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leaving a six-inch-deep,
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Franz-shaped imprint
in the ground.
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This is the
genius of madness.
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When it works, we
celebrate those people
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who are willing to
push through as heroes,
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and when it fails, it's
very easy to dismiss them
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as being crazy.
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While Franz Reichelt's
leap ends in tragedy,
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60 years later, another
fall makes history
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with a far more
surprising outcome.
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This particular day in 1972,
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Flight 367 takes off,
bound for Copenhagen,
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aboard which is a
23-year-old flight attendant
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by the name of Vesna Vulovic.
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One minute,
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Vesna's doing her flight
duties at 33,000 feet.
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The next minute,
a bomb goes off.
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The plane is blown
into multiple pieces.
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Passengers are getting
sucked out of the aircraft,
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and it begins to
take a free fall.
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This took place in the
'70s during the Cold War,
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and some sources say that
this was a briefcase bomb.
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It's unclear
who is responsible,
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but what is certain is Vesna
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is not supposed to
be on this plane.
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She's not even supposed
to be a flight attendant.
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She has chronic
low blood pressure,
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and that should disqualify her
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from that kind of an occupation.
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Because you could
potentially pass out
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when you get to altitude.
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But Vesna is so
determined to get her dream job,
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she figures out a workaround
for her medical exam.
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Vesna is quite ingenious.
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She really only needs to
have normal blood pressure
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during the time of screening.
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In order to bypass
this screening,
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she drinks five or
six cups of coffee,
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jacks her blood pressure
up, jacks her heart rate up,
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goes in, passes the test.
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And there
is another reason
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why Vesna should not be
on this specific flight.
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It's supposed to be her day off.
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It was actually meant to
be someone else's shift,
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but Vesna decides, "Hey,
it's going to Copenhagen.
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It's a city I've
always wanted to see.
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I'll take the shift
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even though it's not
supposed to be mine."
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And it turns out to
be a fateful decision.
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When the
bomb goes off,
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Vesna happens to be
behind the drink cart,
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and as the plane starts
taking a free fall,
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the cart pins Vesna to
the back of the aircraft.
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At this point, Vesna
loses consciousness,
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and she's passed out.
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She free-falls 33,000 feet.
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That's six miles, pinned
between the food cart
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and the fuselage of the plane.
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It may be the first
time that airplane food
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saves someone's life,
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but the unlikely
circumstances continue.
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Vesna is traveling from
33,000 feet in a dead free fall.
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So this is gonna take
her about three minutes
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until she hits the ground.
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And during that time, she's
still in the tail section.
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This forms a kind of
rigid cage around her
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that will somewhat protect her,
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and the tail section
has a surface area
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which will slow down the
descent to some extent.
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It is like the world's
worst parachute.
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Then, another
unbelievable coincidence.
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The wreckage
lands at such an angle
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that she doesn't really
absorb all the impact,
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and she's alive.
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She fell over 33,000
feet without a parachute
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in a damaged airplane that had
been ripped apart by a bomb,
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and is alive.
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She has a skull
fracture, a cerebral hemorrhage,
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she has multiple
fractured vertebrae,
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she has both legs that
have been fractured,
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and a fractured pelvis as well.
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This is actually quite amazing
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that this is all
that she has injured.
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People theorize
that, essentially,
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her low blood pressure
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is what keeps her
heart from exploding.
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It's like an underfilled
water balloon;
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had she had normal
blood pressure
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with that rapid
depressurization of the cabin
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and the impact with the Earth,
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that easily could have made
her heart explode in her chest.
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While she miraculously
survives the impact,
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she needs immediate
medical attention.
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Somehow, the first
person to come along
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to check out the wreckage,
they hear her screaming.
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They see her.
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And it so happens that he is
a former World War II medic,
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and he's seen a lot
of battlefield trauma.
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So he's able to take care
of Vesna until help arrives
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and she's brought to a hospital.
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Vesna is in a coma for a
few weeks after the accident.
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When she finally awakes,
she's partially paralyzed.
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10 months
after the accident,
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Vesna actually regains
her ability to walk,
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and for the rest of her
life, she's got a limp.
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But the fact that she's now
walking less than a year later
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is unbelievable.
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Vesna's plunge lands
her in the history books
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with a world record no one
is in a hurry to break.
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Of all the dangers
you might watch out for
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on a quiet walk, this one
isn't on anyone's list.
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Our tale begins, fittingly,
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00:10:37,333 --> 00:10:41,374
high up on an apartment
building's unluckiest floor.
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00:10:45,583 --> 00:10:48,041
In Buenos Aires in 1988,
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the Montoya family has this
apartment on the 13th floor.
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00:10:51,333 --> 00:10:54,541
Their son is playing with
the pet poodle, Cachi.
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And the son throws the ball
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towards the open
door to the balcony,
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00:10:58,667 --> 00:11:01,332
and the dog goes
bounding after it.
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00:11:01,333 --> 00:11:04,166
As it is getting closer
and closer to this balcony,
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00:11:04,167 --> 00:11:06,292
the dog tries to stop.
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The dog does not.
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00:11:10,708 --> 00:11:14,332
Cachi falls the 13 floors,
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00:11:14,333 --> 00:11:17,624
which is heartbreaking if
you are an animal lover.
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At that very moment,
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00:11:18,875 --> 00:11:20,916
a 75-year-old woman
named Marta Espina,
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00:11:20,917 --> 00:11:22,874
she's walking around
her neighborhood
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00:11:22,875 --> 00:11:25,207
doing some shopping, and
then all of a sudden...
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00:11:25,208 --> 00:11:30,457
Cachi falls directly
onto the head of Marta.
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00:11:30,458 --> 00:11:32,082
They both die.
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00:11:32,083 --> 00:11:33,916
The impact
constitutes, essentially,
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00:11:33,917 --> 00:11:36,832
a blunt-force
trauma to the head.
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But the tragic chain
of events doesn't end here.
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Another woman named
Edith is across the street,
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happens to see this.
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00:11:46,917 --> 00:11:50,041
Immediately, her good
Samaritan intent kicks in.
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00:11:50,042 --> 00:11:51,541
She jumps up to run
across the street
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00:11:51,542 --> 00:11:52,582
to check on this woman.
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00:11:52,583 --> 00:11:53,874
And she...
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Gets hit by a bus.
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So now you have Cachi the
poodle, you have Marta,
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00:12:01,500 --> 00:12:02,667
you have Edith.
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00:12:03,875 --> 00:12:06,916
There is a third
person, a man who apparently
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00:12:06,917 --> 00:12:09,041
has just come out the pharmacy
with his prescription,
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00:12:09,042 --> 00:12:11,041
sees all of this play out.
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00:12:11,042 --> 00:12:13,124
It's too much for him to take.
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00:12:13,125 --> 00:12:15,874
He has a heart attack, and
he dies there on the spot.
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00:12:15,875 --> 00:12:20,499
The fourth casualty of Cachi
the poodle's game of fetch.
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00:12:22,042 --> 00:12:25,374
The odds of death by
poodle are pretty slim,
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00:12:25,375 --> 00:12:27,874
but nothing like what
Shenandoah National Park Ranger
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00:12:27,875 --> 00:12:29,916
Roy Sullivan is up against.
248
00:12:29,917 --> 00:12:33,541
It all starts during a
thunderstorm in 1942.
249
00:12:33,542 --> 00:12:35,874
As Roy takes shelter
in a fire tower,
250
00:12:35,875 --> 00:12:37,541
it's hit by lightning.
251
00:12:41,875 --> 00:12:44,249
And after eight lightning
strikes on that tower,
252
00:12:44,250 --> 00:12:47,208
it's now ablaze, and
Roy has to escape.
253
00:12:49,167 --> 00:12:50,957
Well, on his way down the tower,
254
00:12:52,625 --> 00:12:54,166
he's struck.
255
00:12:54,167 --> 00:12:57,999
It burns through his shoe,
yanks off his toenail,
256
00:12:58,000 --> 00:12:59,957
but he lives through it.
257
00:12:59,958 --> 00:13:01,207
When you are
struck by lightning,
258
00:13:02,833 --> 00:13:06,374
an extremely large amount
of electrical current
259
00:13:06,375 --> 00:13:09,874
flows through your
body, to the ground.
260
00:13:09,875 --> 00:13:13,041
This is potentially
lethal for most people.
261
00:13:13,042 --> 00:13:15,124
The odds of being
struck by lightning
262
00:13:15,125 --> 00:13:19,041
are just one in
15,300, pretty low.
263
00:13:19,042 --> 00:13:21,750
But Ranger Roy is about
to defy those odds,
264
00:13:23,042 --> 00:13:24,166
again.
265
00:13:26,208 --> 00:13:29,457
He is driving his pickup truck
during an electrical storm,
266
00:13:29,458 --> 00:13:34,041
and a tree adjoining
his truck is struck.
267
00:13:35,500 --> 00:13:38,874
The lightning rebounds
into the cab of his truck,
268
00:13:38,875 --> 00:13:41,458
setting his eyebrows
and hair afire.
269
00:13:43,042 --> 00:13:45,791
But twice is
apparently not enough for Roy.
270
00:13:47,250 --> 00:13:49,541
The third time, lightning
bounces off of a transformer
271
00:13:49,542 --> 00:13:53,499
and strikes him, but this
time it leaves its mark.
272
00:13:53,500 --> 00:13:57,207
It's a Lichtenberg figure,
so-called, across his back
273
00:13:57,208 --> 00:13:59,999
in the shape of
a lightning bolt.
274
00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:02,999
Roy is now tied with
a man named Walter Summerford
275
00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:05,207
as the only known people who
have been struck by lightning
276
00:14:05,208 --> 00:14:08,291
three times, for at
least two years.
277
00:14:08,292 --> 00:14:10,124
That is, until...
278
00:14:10,125 --> 00:14:12,291
Roy's struck again!
279
00:14:12,292 --> 00:14:13,874
Fourth time.
280
00:14:13,875 --> 00:14:15,666
This time, it sets
his hair on fire,
281
00:14:15,667 --> 00:14:17,500
and he's got to put that out.
282
00:14:18,875 --> 00:14:21,874
He takes a wet cloth,
pats it on his head,
283
00:14:21,875 --> 00:14:23,375
and puts his hair out.
284
00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:26,832
So now Roy,
285
00:14:26,833 --> 00:14:29,749
the most-struck-by-lightning
man on Earth,
286
00:14:29,750 --> 00:14:33,624
travels everywhere with a
can of water at the ready
287
00:14:33,625 --> 00:14:37,041
just in case he is struck
and set upon fire again.
288
00:14:37,042 --> 00:14:39,582
Unfortunately,
that can of water
289
00:14:39,583 --> 00:14:40,958
is going to come in handy.
290
00:14:42,292 --> 00:14:44,499
He's driving down
a mountain road.
291
00:14:44,500 --> 00:14:47,957
He sees evidence of a lightning
storm on the horizon.
292
00:14:49,208 --> 00:14:51,166
He flees in the other direction.
293
00:14:51,167 --> 00:14:53,082
He starts driving away
as quickly as possible,
294
00:14:53,083 --> 00:14:54,666
can of water at the ready,
295
00:14:54,667 --> 00:14:58,707
appearing to be at a safe
distance from the ominous cloud
296
00:14:58,708 --> 00:15:00,499
that he feels is following.
297
00:15:00,500 --> 00:15:02,999
He emerges from
his pickup truck,
298
00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,124
only to be struck again.
299
00:15:05,125 --> 00:15:07,791
Hair on fire, eyebrows on fire,
can of water over the head.
300
00:15:07,792 --> 00:15:09,874
Roy was prepared this time.
301
00:15:09,875 --> 00:15:12,874
It's the same show
all over and over again.
302
00:15:14,250 --> 00:15:16,999
Incredibly, Roy
is struck two more times,
303
00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:20,374
the last after he leaves
what already was for him
304
00:15:20,375 --> 00:15:22,291
a dangerous job.
305
00:15:22,292 --> 00:15:25,666
When Roy finally retires
from the park service,
306
00:15:25,667 --> 00:15:29,041
his seventh and final time
happens while he is at leisure.
307
00:15:30,542 --> 00:15:32,957
He gets struck while fishing.
308
00:15:32,958 --> 00:15:36,124
Roy, in short,
is a miracle man.
309
00:15:36,125 --> 00:15:38,166
The chance of being
struck by lightning
310
00:15:38,167 --> 00:15:42,749
seven different times
is one out of 10
311
00:15:42,750 --> 00:15:44,416
to the 28th power.
312
00:15:44,417 --> 00:15:48,041
The chances of being struck
and surviving seven times
313
00:15:48,042 --> 00:15:50,999
put the odds even
further off the margins.
314
00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:54,124
And it would be
considered impossible
315
00:15:54,125 --> 00:15:58,541
but for the fact that it
happens to Roy Sullivan.
316
00:15:58,542 --> 00:16:01,499
Even his own wife
isn't safe around him.
317
00:16:01,500 --> 00:16:04,374
It's no surprise that
his wife would be dismayed
318
00:16:04,375 --> 00:16:07,249
because when she's
hanging clothes one day,
319
00:16:07,250 --> 00:16:08,916
when he's 100-some feet away,
320
00:16:11,125 --> 00:16:13,082
she herself gets
struck by lightning.
321
00:16:14,500 --> 00:16:18,166
Surprisingly, she
doesn't file for divorce.
322
00:16:18,167 --> 00:16:20,374
The way Roy chooses
to deal with this
323
00:16:20,375 --> 00:16:24,749
attraction that he has for
things that kill anybody else,
324
00:16:24,750 --> 00:16:26,749
is he decides to own it.
325
00:16:26,750 --> 00:16:29,874
He becomes the Guinness
World Record holder
326
00:16:29,875 --> 00:16:31,124
for the number of
lightning strikes
327
00:16:31,125 --> 00:16:32,957
that someone can live through.
328
00:16:32,958 --> 00:16:34,582
He gives lectures.
329
00:16:34,583 --> 00:16:39,249
He has the artifacts from
when he's been struck.
330
00:16:39,250 --> 00:16:44,166
He essentially becomes the
human lightning rod for real.
331
00:16:44,167 --> 00:16:47,207
His superhuman ability
is that he shows us
332
00:16:47,208 --> 00:16:49,416
that the word "impossible"
333
00:16:49,417 --> 00:16:53,041
should be used very
sparingly, if at all.
334
00:16:53,042 --> 00:16:55,207
Turns out lightning
does strike twice.
335
00:16:55,208 --> 00:16:58,125
And in Roy's case, five
more times after that.
336
00:17:01,917 --> 00:17:03,541
St. Petersburg, Florida, 1951,
337
00:17:03,542 --> 00:17:06,874
a widow named Mary Reeser is
having dinner with her son.
338
00:17:06,875 --> 00:17:09,249
She then tells him
it's time for a nap.
339
00:17:09,250 --> 00:17:13,541
What happens next is,
well, unbelievable.
340
00:17:17,417 --> 00:17:19,791
Mary Reeser gets home
one night to her apartment,
341
00:17:19,792 --> 00:17:23,374
plops down in her overstuffed
upholstered easy chair,
342
00:17:23,375 --> 00:17:24,832
pops a couple of sedatives
343
00:17:24,833 --> 00:17:26,332
'cause she's trying
to get some rest,
344
00:17:26,333 --> 00:17:28,000
passes out, and goes to sleep.
345
00:17:31,708 --> 00:17:37,166
8:00 a.m. the next morning,
her landlord, Pansy Carpenter,
346
00:17:37,167 --> 00:17:38,582
smells some smoke.
347
00:17:38,583 --> 00:17:40,791
So she goes, and she
touches the doorknob,
348
00:17:40,792 --> 00:17:42,291
and it's too hot to touch.
349
00:17:42,292 --> 00:17:45,499
So she fears, rightfully so,
that there's a fire inside.
350
00:17:46,667 --> 00:17:48,374
The police department
is immediately called,
351
00:17:48,375 --> 00:17:50,666
and they show up, and
when they open the door,
352
00:17:50,667 --> 00:17:53,250
they see something that
they've never seen before.
353
00:17:57,500 --> 00:17:59,082
Very little is
left of the chair,
354
00:17:59,083 --> 00:18:00,792
just some springs
and some debris.
355
00:18:02,167 --> 00:18:05,374
There's a pile of ash
where Mary was sitting.
356
00:18:05,375 --> 00:18:09,624
One of her feet is completely
intact, still in the slipper.
357
00:18:09,625 --> 00:18:11,499
Stranger still,
358
00:18:11,500 --> 00:18:14,333
nothing else in the
apartment has caught fire.
359
00:18:15,875 --> 00:18:21,166
A pile of newspapers, feet
away, completely untouched.
360
00:18:21,167 --> 00:18:23,499
Light switches on
the wall are melted,
361
00:18:23,500 --> 00:18:25,832
but the outlets on the
bottom are still operational
362
00:18:25,833 --> 00:18:27,416
and perfectly intact.
363
00:18:27,417 --> 00:18:29,082
The pictures
are on the walls.
364
00:18:29,083 --> 00:18:30,499
The floor, perfectly fine.
365
00:18:30,500 --> 00:18:31,791
The ceiling, no smoke damage.
366
00:18:31,792 --> 00:18:35,750
And yet, Mary Reeser,
burned to a crisp, gone.
367
00:18:37,042 --> 00:18:42,624
So what caused Mary
Reeser to suddenly go poof?
368
00:18:42,625 --> 00:18:44,832
For a human body
to be fully cremated,
369
00:18:44,833 --> 00:18:48,416
you have to be in a fire that
is upwards of 3,000 degrees
370
00:18:48,417 --> 00:18:50,874
for upwards of three hours.
371
00:18:50,875 --> 00:18:53,041
Perhaps she lit a cigarette,
372
00:18:53,042 --> 00:18:56,207
the cigarette lit her clothes
on fire, and she burned.
373
00:18:56,208 --> 00:19:00,041
Yet somehow, fire didn't
spread to any other apartment.
374
00:19:00,042 --> 00:19:02,791
No one smelled smoke, saw smoke.
375
00:19:02,792 --> 00:19:06,374
There's just no way
that any household fire
376
00:19:06,375 --> 00:19:09,541
would be able to consume
a human being that way.
377
00:19:09,542 --> 00:19:12,291
Even more bizarre,
Mary's skull is found,
378
00:19:12,292 --> 00:19:14,291
but it's mysteriously smaller.
379
00:19:14,292 --> 00:19:17,041
In a normal cremation setting,
380
00:19:17,042 --> 00:19:19,207
the human skull
is going to crack.
381
00:19:19,208 --> 00:19:21,249
In her case, the
skull shrinks down
382
00:19:21,250 --> 00:19:24,291
to the size of a baseball.
383
00:19:24,292 --> 00:19:26,125
Now, doesn't that
sound suspicious?
384
00:19:27,125 --> 00:19:29,041
The authorities
begin to wonder,
385
00:19:29,042 --> 00:19:31,582
is there some Soviet
weapon at play?
386
00:19:31,583 --> 00:19:34,916
So the FBI begins
investigating this.
387
00:19:34,917 --> 00:19:36,457
It's so perplexing,
388
00:19:36,458 --> 00:19:40,041
it makes it all the way up
to Director J. Edgar Hoover.
389
00:19:40,042 --> 00:19:41,582
He looks at this case,
390
00:19:41,583 --> 00:19:44,624
and he's so concerned that he
actually lets the president,
391
00:19:44,625 --> 00:19:47,957
Harry S. Truman, know about
this case going on in Florida.
392
00:19:47,958 --> 00:19:51,041
He employs his top forensic
anthropologist at the time,
393
00:19:51,042 --> 00:19:52,791
Wilton Krogman.
394
00:19:52,792 --> 00:19:56,416
Wilton Krogman is a
pioneer in the forensics field
395
00:19:56,417 --> 00:19:59,374
and the most qualified man in
the country to solve the case.
396
00:19:59,375 --> 00:20:01,166
He shows up to the scene,
397
00:20:01,167 --> 00:20:02,624
and he has no idea
what's going on.
398
00:20:02,625 --> 00:20:06,416
How does a skull
shrink in a fire?
399
00:20:06,417 --> 00:20:08,791
That's not a thing that's
supposed to happen.
400
00:20:08,792 --> 00:20:11,374
Desperate, the
FBI entertains a number
401
00:20:11,375 --> 00:20:13,124
of strange possibilities.
402
00:20:15,708 --> 00:20:17,707
Now, a lot of people
speculate foul play
403
00:20:17,708 --> 00:20:21,249
and that someone had
come in and doused Mary
404
00:20:21,250 --> 00:20:23,583
with kerosene and
set her alight.
405
00:20:25,333 --> 00:20:27,082
All the associated
things that you would have
406
00:20:27,083 --> 00:20:29,374
inside of an arson case
with an accelerant,
407
00:20:29,375 --> 00:20:30,374
all the samples
that were collected
408
00:20:30,375 --> 00:20:32,207
and sent to the laboratory,
409
00:20:32,208 --> 00:20:34,041
none of it comes back
with any sort of traces
410
00:20:34,042 --> 00:20:35,250
of accelerant in it.
411
00:20:36,542 --> 00:20:38,957
The next theory
the FBI investigates
412
00:20:38,958 --> 00:20:40,916
comes from an anonymous tip.
413
00:20:40,917 --> 00:20:42,749
An anonymous person calls up
414
00:20:42,750 --> 00:20:45,416
and says that a fireball
came in through the window,
415
00:20:45,417 --> 00:20:47,292
lights Mary on fire.
416
00:20:50,875 --> 00:20:53,707
Gave an official
statement, said, "I seen it.
417
00:20:53,708 --> 00:20:56,207
A fireball came in her
window and hit it."
418
00:20:59,708 --> 00:21:03,374
Generally speaking, fireballs
don't fly through windows.
419
00:21:03,375 --> 00:21:06,124
What it could be is another
unexplained phenomenon
420
00:21:06,125 --> 00:21:08,499
of ball lightning,
which is controversial.
421
00:21:08,500 --> 00:21:10,041
It may or may not exist.
422
00:21:10,042 --> 00:21:12,874
I mean, how much credence do
we put into anonymous tips?
423
00:21:12,875 --> 00:21:15,374
I mean, right there, we think
it's a little bit of BS.
424
00:21:15,375 --> 00:21:17,624
Is it possible the
most likely explanation
425
00:21:17,625 --> 00:21:20,916
is also the most unbelievable:
426
00:21:20,917 --> 00:21:23,457
spontaneous human combustion?
427
00:21:23,458 --> 00:21:26,874
Spontaneous human combustion
is an idea that someone
428
00:21:26,875 --> 00:21:29,249
just, all of a sudden,
bursts into flames,
429
00:21:29,250 --> 00:21:31,374
and it only impacts
the individual,
430
00:21:31,375 --> 00:21:33,624
and it doesn't
impact anything else.
431
00:21:33,625 --> 00:21:37,624
Spontaneous combustion
does happen in nature.
432
00:21:37,625 --> 00:21:40,041
With hay bales, you
have wet and dry hay.
433
00:21:40,042 --> 00:21:41,541
The wet hay's still alive,
434
00:21:41,542 --> 00:21:43,707
going through its
respiration process,
435
00:21:43,708 --> 00:21:46,541
taking in carbon dioxide,
pumping out oxygen,
436
00:21:46,542 --> 00:21:48,124
and this creates heat.
437
00:21:48,125 --> 00:21:50,124
So you'll have hay bales that
just spontaneously combust.
438
00:21:51,875 --> 00:21:55,541
The question is, could
this also happen to humans?
439
00:21:55,542 --> 00:21:59,582
Shockingly, there have been
roughly 200 recorded cases
440
00:21:59,583 --> 00:22:02,832
of spontaneous human
combustion in history.
441
00:22:02,833 --> 00:22:07,874
In 1470, there is an
Italian knight in Milan
442
00:22:07,875 --> 00:22:13,082
who, after a night of drinking,
according to witnesses,
443
00:22:13,083 --> 00:22:15,707
begins to actually
belch up flame.
444
00:22:15,708 --> 00:22:20,124
And finally, his
entire body combusts,
445
00:22:20,125 --> 00:22:22,457
seemingly from within.
446
00:22:22,458 --> 00:22:24,041
But in Mary's case,
447
00:22:24,042 --> 00:22:28,541
the FBI is unwilling to list
spontaneous human combustion
448
00:22:28,542 --> 00:22:30,874
as the official cause of death.
449
00:22:30,875 --> 00:22:34,207
What they come up with
isn't any less strange.
450
00:22:34,208 --> 00:22:37,207
So, the belief is
that Mary succumbed
451
00:22:37,208 --> 00:22:39,874
to something known
as the wick effect.
452
00:22:39,875 --> 00:22:42,707
In essence, the body is
an inside-out candle.
453
00:22:42,708 --> 00:22:46,166
The clothing is the
wick that catches flame,
454
00:22:46,167 --> 00:22:49,874
but the combustible
hydrocarbons found in human fat
455
00:22:49,875 --> 00:22:51,917
literally served
to fuel the fire.
456
00:22:53,542 --> 00:22:55,707
Because she's an overweight
woman that was also a smoker,
457
00:22:55,708 --> 00:22:59,374
the FBI suggests that the
cigarette burns her nightgown,
458
00:22:59,375 --> 00:23:01,416
which causes her
to go up in flame.
459
00:23:01,417 --> 00:23:03,791
Because she's a heavier
woman, that leads to the fire
460
00:23:03,792 --> 00:23:06,916
continuing to burn for
a longer period of time.
461
00:23:06,917 --> 00:23:09,707
Not everyone
accepts this answer.
462
00:23:09,708 --> 00:23:12,457
There are lots of
problems with this theory.
463
00:23:12,458 --> 00:23:14,416
The first of which is
that millions of people
464
00:23:14,417 --> 00:23:16,499
fall asleep with lit cigarettes,
465
00:23:16,500 --> 00:23:20,041
and they don't usually
end up cremated.
466
00:23:20,042 --> 00:23:21,666
So people are thinking,
467
00:23:21,667 --> 00:23:26,041
"Why would you not wake up if
you are currently on fire?"
468
00:23:26,042 --> 00:23:29,874
Even with sedatives, there's
still a great likelihood
469
00:23:29,875 --> 00:23:33,166
that a person would
start thrashing around.
470
00:23:33,167 --> 00:23:35,541
Spontaneous human combustion,
471
00:23:35,542 --> 00:23:38,666
it's the last place
investigators want to go,
472
00:23:38,667 --> 00:23:40,416
but sometimes they're
forced to go there
473
00:23:40,417 --> 00:23:43,000
in the absence of any
other explanations.
474
00:23:45,625 --> 00:23:48,416
I think it's a damn
strange world.
475
00:23:48,417 --> 00:23:50,249
I never take anything
off the table
476
00:23:50,250 --> 00:23:51,457
until we're absolutely certain.
477
00:23:53,500 --> 00:23:55,957
The forensic anthropologist
hired by the FBI
478
00:23:55,958 --> 00:23:59,374
has this to say: "Were I
living in the Middle Ages,
479
00:23:59,375 --> 00:24:02,083
I'd mutter something
about black magic."
480
00:24:05,958 --> 00:24:08,624
Some leaders face war,
famine, or political unrest.
481
00:24:08,625 --> 00:24:11,541
For one 16th-century
Austrian mayor,
482
00:24:11,542 --> 00:24:14,374
the real threat is
right under his nose.
483
00:24:18,458 --> 00:24:20,666
It's the 16th century,
and Hans Steininger
484
00:24:20,667 --> 00:24:24,416
is the immensely popular
mayor of Braunau am Inn.
485
00:24:24,417 --> 00:24:25,666
Everyone loves him.
486
00:24:25,667 --> 00:24:28,374
He's elected for six
consecutive terms,
487
00:24:28,375 --> 00:24:31,041
but that's not what
he's famous for.
488
00:24:31,042 --> 00:24:33,457
Hans is a sight to see.
489
00:24:33,458 --> 00:24:36,874
He has a beard that's
4 1/2 feet long.
490
00:24:36,875 --> 00:24:40,041
Now, when it gets to
the end, it forks.
491
00:24:40,042 --> 00:24:43,582
It's so long, it reaches
all the way to his feet.
492
00:24:43,583 --> 00:24:46,082
Mayor Hans even
has his suits custom-made
493
00:24:46,083 --> 00:24:48,332
to keep his beard
neatly rolled up
494
00:24:48,333 --> 00:24:50,416
and tucked into
his breast pocket.
495
00:24:50,417 --> 00:24:54,541
Braunau am Inn flourishes under
his leadership for decades,
496
00:24:54,542 --> 00:24:58,792
until one day, when
things get a little hairy.
497
00:24:59,792 --> 00:25:03,958
September 28th,
1576, all mayhem breaks out.
498
00:25:05,083 --> 00:25:09,291
The town of Braunau
am Inn catches fire.
499
00:25:09,292 --> 00:25:11,541
It's 1576.
500
00:25:11,542 --> 00:25:13,707
There's no such thing
as a fire engine yet.
501
00:25:13,708 --> 00:25:16,207
There's no such thing
as a fire department.
502
00:25:16,208 --> 00:25:20,874
Now, the mayor has an emergency
that he has to handle.
503
00:25:20,875 --> 00:25:24,874
Atop a really long staircase,
Hans surveys the scene,
504
00:25:24,875 --> 00:25:27,874
and he just sees his
entire town in flames.
505
00:25:27,875 --> 00:25:30,791
So, to go save the town and
direct the rescue efforts,
506
00:25:30,792 --> 00:25:34,499
he takes off running
straight down the stairs.
507
00:25:34,500 --> 00:25:36,041
However, in his haste,
508
00:25:36,042 --> 00:25:40,874
he forgets to tuck his beard
into his little beard pocket.
509
00:25:40,875 --> 00:25:44,749
Almost immediately,
his 4 1/2-foot beard
510
00:25:44,750 --> 00:25:46,207
tangles up in his feet,
511
00:25:46,208 --> 00:25:49,832
and he's just tumbling
down these concrete stairs.
512
00:25:49,833 --> 00:25:52,457
Tip over top,
over tip, over top,
513
00:25:52,458 --> 00:25:54,457
into the town square.
514
00:25:54,458 --> 00:25:56,166
By the time
he reaches the bottom,
515
00:25:56,167 --> 00:25:57,874
his neck is broken.
516
00:25:57,875 --> 00:26:00,541
This is probably
the first time
517
00:26:00,542 --> 00:26:02,041
in the history of the world
518
00:26:02,042 --> 00:26:05,916
a mayor has been killed
by his own beard.
519
00:26:05,917 --> 00:26:07,874
But the people
of Braunau am Inn
520
00:26:07,875 --> 00:26:11,874
find an unbelievable way to
honor the mayor's legacy.
521
00:26:11,875 --> 00:26:15,541
Hans may have been lost
that day, but not his beard.
522
00:26:15,542 --> 00:26:18,541
His beard is snipped
off before he's buried
523
00:26:18,542 --> 00:26:20,207
and is kept by his family
524
00:26:20,208 --> 00:26:22,582
and passed down from
generation to generation
525
00:26:22,583 --> 00:26:26,666
until finally, in the
20th century, 1919,
526
00:26:26,667 --> 00:26:29,249
the beard is
bequeathed to the city.
527
00:26:29,250 --> 00:26:34,332
And to this day, it is in a
4 1/2-foot-long glass box,
528
00:26:34,333 --> 00:26:38,208
embalmed for everyone to
remember Mayor Hans Steininger.
529
00:26:39,792 --> 00:26:42,249
A beard may have
brought one man down,
530
00:26:42,250 --> 00:26:46,207
but centuries later, another
man takes a much sharper blow.
531
00:26:50,917 --> 00:26:54,916
Phineas Gage is a
25-year-old railroad worker
532
00:26:54,917 --> 00:26:57,916
in the town of
Cavendish, Vermont.
533
00:26:57,917 --> 00:27:02,833
Phineas is a professional,
hardworking, brilliant citizen.
534
00:27:03,750 --> 00:27:05,999
His specialty is explosives.
535
00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:07,541
'Cause they need to lay
down railroad track,
536
00:27:07,542 --> 00:27:09,541
you have to blow
up a lot of rock,
537
00:27:09,542 --> 00:27:12,166
and so he's the guy
that sets the charge.
538
00:27:12,167 --> 00:27:14,582
As part
of Phineas's job,
539
00:27:14,583 --> 00:27:18,041
he has a 3 1/2-foot iron bar
540
00:27:18,042 --> 00:27:20,291
that he uses to tamp
down the gunpowder.
541
00:27:22,167 --> 00:27:24,582
But it's very,
very, very dangerous work
542
00:27:24,583 --> 00:27:26,541
because it's black powder,
543
00:27:26,542 --> 00:27:29,166
and black powder can go
off like that.
544
00:27:31,375 --> 00:27:35,292
He strikes the rock just so
with his rod, creates a spark.
545
00:27:46,208 --> 00:27:49,624
That tamping iron
essentially became the bullet.
546
00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:56,332
It shoots upward, and
it goes right into his cheek,
547
00:27:58,042 --> 00:28:01,416
passes behind his left eye, and
then out the top of his head
548
00:28:01,417 --> 00:28:03,250
through the frontal left lobe.
549
00:28:05,042 --> 00:28:08,457
It flies 80 feet away
from the explosion.
550
00:28:10,750 --> 00:28:15,082
Everyone is absolutely
certain the man is dead.
551
00:28:15,083 --> 00:28:19,749
To the shock of his
crewmates, he stands up,
552
00:28:19,750 --> 00:28:22,707
starts walking around,
asking what happened.
553
00:28:22,708 --> 00:28:25,207
He doesn't seem
particularly alarmed.
554
00:28:25,208 --> 00:28:30,208
Because the tapered end of
the bar exits his skull,
555
00:28:31,208 --> 00:28:33,124
he is spared
greater brain damage
556
00:28:33,125 --> 00:28:35,207
than he otherwise
would've suffered.
557
00:28:35,208 --> 00:28:37,999
Doctors manage
to stop the bleeding,
558
00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:42,124
but they wonder, what are
the long-term consequences?
559
00:28:42,125 --> 00:28:45,999
Phineas was known
as an easygoing,
560
00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:48,416
likable guy before his injury.
561
00:28:48,417 --> 00:28:52,999
The person who returns
to the railroad crew
562
00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:56,166
is argumentative, abrasive.
563
00:28:56,167 --> 00:28:59,207
He's irritable,
short-tempered, impulsive,
564
00:28:59,208 --> 00:29:01,874
and he's kind of a jerk
to everybody around him.
565
00:29:01,875 --> 00:29:05,499
He's prone to
alcoholism and violence,
566
00:29:05,500 --> 00:29:08,375
and we could say definitively,
these are two different people.
567
00:29:09,792 --> 00:29:12,374
Gage becomes kind of
a medical curiosity,
568
00:29:12,375 --> 00:29:15,166
and people are wondering how
then on Earth he survives,
569
00:29:15,167 --> 00:29:18,207
and also, what is it that
has changed his personality?
570
00:29:18,208 --> 00:29:20,708
And it's really, in some ways,
the beginning of neuroscience.
571
00:29:21,750 --> 00:29:23,666
The way the rod goes
through his brain,
572
00:29:23,667 --> 00:29:25,916
it pierces an area of the brain
573
00:29:25,917 --> 00:29:29,041
that controls
emotional responses.
574
00:29:29,042 --> 00:29:30,666
The frontal lobes.
575
00:29:30,667 --> 00:29:33,041
Frontal lobes are
really super important
576
00:29:33,042 --> 00:29:35,207
for behavioral control.
577
00:29:35,208 --> 00:29:38,374
When Phineas severely
damages his frontal lobes,
578
00:29:38,375 --> 00:29:41,374
it's like a brake
has been taken off of
579
00:29:41,375 --> 00:29:43,249
his behavioral regulator.
580
00:29:43,250 --> 00:29:46,166
And it is not
uncommon with patients
581
00:29:46,167 --> 00:29:49,041
that have frontal lobe damage
that they act impulsively.
582
00:29:49,042 --> 00:29:51,332
They can act aggressively.
583
00:29:51,333 --> 00:29:53,082
Prior to this, people
thought personality
584
00:29:53,083 --> 00:29:54,874
was sort of like an
extension of your soul.
585
00:29:54,875 --> 00:29:57,166
It was some sort of
ethereal part of you
586
00:29:57,167 --> 00:29:59,582
that, you know, you had
to work on all the time,
587
00:29:59,583 --> 00:30:02,207
as opposed to something that
literally came out of synapses
588
00:30:02,208 --> 00:30:04,208
and cells and things
in your brain.
589
00:30:05,542 --> 00:30:08,832
What I find fascinating
about the Phineas Gage case
590
00:30:08,833 --> 00:30:12,082
is that 175 years later,
591
00:30:12,083 --> 00:30:15,332
scientists are still
studying his case.
592
00:30:15,333 --> 00:30:19,082
He is that important
in the history
593
00:30:19,083 --> 00:30:21,999
of our understanding
of the human brain.
594
00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:25,082
What eventually
becomes of Phineas Gage?
595
00:30:25,083 --> 00:30:28,166
Because of the
changing character
596
00:30:28,167 --> 00:30:30,749
that transpires in Phineas,
597
00:30:30,750 --> 00:30:34,082
he can no longer get
along on crew work,
598
00:30:34,083 --> 00:30:37,041
and he actually finds
work driving a stagecoach
599
00:30:37,042 --> 00:30:39,958
in South America, in
the nation of Chile.
600
00:30:40,958 --> 00:30:43,832
Phineas Gage continues
to turn heads to this day.
601
00:30:43,833 --> 00:30:46,582
His skull and the iron
bar that passed through it
602
00:30:46,583 --> 00:30:48,374
are on permanent display
603
00:30:48,375 --> 00:30:55,957
at the Countway Library of
Medicine at Harvard University.
604
00:30:55,958 --> 00:30:57,457
We're all familiar
with the old saying,
605
00:30:57,458 --> 00:30:59,041
"Pride goeth before a fall."
606
00:30:59,042 --> 00:31:02,207
But in the case of one very
confident safety expert,
607
00:31:02,208 --> 00:31:04,999
this expression becomes
quite literally true.
608
00:31:07,042 --> 00:31:10,124
Garry Hoy is a highly
regarded Toronto lawyer
609
00:31:10,125 --> 00:31:13,249
who specializes in building
safety and compliance.
610
00:31:13,250 --> 00:31:16,541
On top of that, he also has
a degree in engineering.
611
00:31:16,542 --> 00:31:19,500
This is a guy that
absolutely loves his job.
612
00:31:21,167 --> 00:31:24,624
July 9th, 1993, and Garry Hoy
613
00:31:24,625 --> 00:31:27,707
is there at the Dominion
Tower skyscraper in Toronto
614
00:31:27,708 --> 00:31:29,541
for an office party.
615
00:31:29,542 --> 00:31:34,041
It's a welcome party for young,
college soon-to-be grads
616
00:31:34,042 --> 00:31:37,416
applying for apprenticeships
at his law firm.
617
00:31:37,417 --> 00:31:40,332
Because he is so
passionate about building safety
618
00:31:40,333 --> 00:31:42,041
and about engineering
structures,
619
00:31:42,042 --> 00:31:44,999
he wants to showcase
the resilience
620
00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:47,874
of the windows of the building.
621
00:31:47,875 --> 00:31:49,957
His offices are
the 24th floor,
622
00:31:49,958 --> 00:31:53,374
and he decides to show
them his party trick.
623
00:31:55,375 --> 00:31:57,416
So he tells
everybody to step back,
624
00:31:57,417 --> 00:31:59,707
and they give him room.
625
00:31:59,708 --> 00:32:03,000
He backs up and starts running.
626
00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:08,500
He launches
himself at this window.
627
00:32:10,375 --> 00:32:12,082
And he bounces
right off of it,
628
00:32:12,083 --> 00:32:14,582
and he says to everyone,
to a round of applause,
629
00:32:14,583 --> 00:32:17,374
cheers, and laughs, "Look
how strong that glass is."
630
00:32:17,375 --> 00:32:19,457
Feeling the high of
the crowd's reception
631
00:32:19,458 --> 00:32:22,667
to his party trick, he goes,
"I'm gonna do it again."
632
00:32:23,625 --> 00:32:26,374
Garry backs up, and
he sprints at full speed
633
00:32:26,375 --> 00:32:30,874
towards the shatterproof window,
24 stories above Toronto.
634
00:32:32,333 --> 00:32:34,041
The window
doesn't shatter.
635
00:32:34,042 --> 00:32:37,957
However, the glass
and its entire frame
636
00:32:37,958 --> 00:32:41,041
separate from the side
of the skyscraper.
637
00:32:41,042 --> 00:32:44,374
And now, Garry, to his
surprise, is riding
638
00:32:44,375 --> 00:32:48,249
a full, intact pane
of skyscraper glass
639
00:32:48,250 --> 00:32:50,417
down to the ground of Toronto.
640
00:32:54,375 --> 00:32:56,417
Unfortunately,
he's killed.
641
00:32:57,708 --> 00:32:59,291
But he's right!
642
00:32:59,292 --> 00:33:03,874
His windows are actually as
resilient as he always claimed.
643
00:33:03,875 --> 00:33:06,707
He just isn't taking
into account the frame,
644
00:33:06,708 --> 00:33:08,249
which is the failure point,
645
00:33:08,250 --> 00:33:11,041
and that was the
ultimate demise.
646
00:33:11,042 --> 00:33:12,999
Garry proved
that showing off
647
00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:15,416
can have deadly consequences.
648
00:33:15,417 --> 00:33:18,374
But our next story takes
that idea even higher,
649
00:33:18,375 --> 00:33:23,374
as two men in 19th-century
Paris risk everything for love.
650
00:33:25,167 --> 00:33:28,124
So we're in Napoleonic
France, 1808, in Paris.
651
00:33:28,125 --> 00:33:30,041
We have a famous dancer
at an opera house.
652
00:33:30,042 --> 00:33:32,541
A gorgeous lady,
Mademoiselle Tirevit,
653
00:33:32,542 --> 00:33:35,624
and two gentlemen are
desperately in love with her.
654
00:33:35,625 --> 00:33:37,916
So one guy, Monsieur Grandpre,
655
00:33:37,917 --> 00:33:39,749
decides to get her an
apartment in the city
656
00:33:39,750 --> 00:33:41,832
so that he can visit her there.
657
00:33:41,833 --> 00:33:44,249
But this plan backfires
when he realizes
658
00:33:44,250 --> 00:33:47,416
that he's not the only
gentleman caller visiting her.
659
00:33:47,417 --> 00:33:50,874
There's a second man
named Monsieur Le Pique.
660
00:33:50,875 --> 00:33:55,999
So Monsieur Grandpre challenges
Monsieur Le Pique to a duel,
661
00:33:56,000 --> 00:33:59,624
a real, to-the-death duel.
662
00:33:59,625 --> 00:34:02,082
But this isn't
going to be a regular duel.
663
00:34:02,083 --> 00:34:04,291
No, they plan
something much bigger,
664
00:34:04,292 --> 00:34:06,124
something much more chic.
665
00:34:06,125 --> 00:34:08,374
They're going to
shoot at each other
666
00:34:08,375 --> 00:34:11,249
in hot air balloons
over the city.
667
00:34:11,250 --> 00:34:13,249
And not
just at each other.
668
00:34:13,250 --> 00:34:14,957
The goal of this
high-stakes game
669
00:34:14,958 --> 00:34:17,082
is to shoot down the
opponent's balloon.
670
00:34:17,083 --> 00:34:19,374
So this dancer
must be very special
671
00:34:19,375 --> 00:34:21,207
because it's pretty
much guaranteed
672
00:34:21,208 --> 00:34:23,457
that at least one of them,
probably both of them,
673
00:34:23,458 --> 00:34:25,207
are going to die.
674
00:34:25,208 --> 00:34:28,957
They schedule this hot air
balloon duel for a month out,
675
00:34:28,958 --> 00:34:32,166
and you would think, having a
month to reflect on this plan,
676
00:34:32,167 --> 00:34:35,166
somebody would've
come to their senses.
677
00:34:35,167 --> 00:34:36,707
But no one's
head cools down.
678
00:34:36,708 --> 00:34:38,916
No one thinks to themselves,
"Maybe this isn't a great idea."
679
00:34:38,917 --> 00:34:41,250
No, they all go forward with it.
680
00:34:42,250 --> 00:34:45,082
On May 3rd,
1808, it's showtime.
681
00:34:45,083 --> 00:34:47,207
As the crowd gathers in
the Tuileries Gardens
682
00:34:47,208 --> 00:34:48,916
just next to the Louvre Museum,
683
00:34:48,917 --> 00:34:52,666
most people think they're
watching a simple balloon race
684
00:34:52,667 --> 00:34:54,333
until they see the guns.
685
00:34:55,333 --> 00:34:56,916
And this
isn't even the strangest
686
00:34:56,917 --> 00:34:58,541
part of this story yet.
687
00:34:58,542 --> 00:35:01,541
Dueling, it's common practice
to have a second man with you.
688
00:35:01,542 --> 00:35:04,207
But in this case,
you need to find
689
00:35:04,208 --> 00:35:06,207
someone who is
such a good friend
690
00:35:06,208 --> 00:35:07,374
that they're willing to get
691
00:35:07,375 --> 00:35:09,374
into this hot air
balloon with you,
692
00:35:09,375 --> 00:35:12,416
knowing that they
will likely also die.
693
00:35:12,417 --> 00:35:15,625
So that's gotta be a
really strong friendship.
694
00:35:16,875 --> 00:35:18,207
As the
balloons lift off,
695
00:35:18,208 --> 00:35:20,707
the mostly unsuspecting
crowd begins to cheer.
696
00:35:22,833 --> 00:35:26,207
Now nearly 2,000 feet
above the city of lovers,
697
00:35:26,208 --> 00:35:27,749
the duel begins.
698
00:35:27,750 --> 00:35:31,207
But first, they must
follow the code duello.
699
00:35:31,208 --> 00:35:32,541
This isn't like a Western;
700
00:35:32,542 --> 00:35:34,707
you don't have two
guys standing there,
701
00:35:34,708 --> 00:35:36,999
both ready to draw, and
they do what they want.
702
00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:38,874
The code duello sets
very specific rules
703
00:35:38,875 --> 00:35:40,749
for how a duel is conducted.
704
00:35:40,750 --> 00:35:43,332
The most important
part of this code to note
705
00:35:43,333 --> 00:35:45,749
is that the man who
accepts the challenge
706
00:35:45,750 --> 00:35:47,249
gets to shoot first.
707
00:35:47,250 --> 00:35:49,207
So in this case,
because Grandpre
708
00:35:49,208 --> 00:35:51,291
extended the
challenge to Le Pique,
709
00:35:51,292 --> 00:35:53,125
Le Pique gets the first shot.
710
00:35:55,208 --> 00:35:56,832
He doesn't have
to hit Grandpre;
711
00:35:56,833 --> 00:35:59,875
he only has to hit this
large, floating balloon.
712
00:36:02,542 --> 00:36:04,707
But Le Pique, who had
a month to practice this,
713
00:36:04,708 --> 00:36:05,750
totally misses.
714
00:36:07,125 --> 00:36:09,957
That now gives Grandpre the
opportunity to fire his shot,
715
00:36:09,958 --> 00:36:13,541
while Le Pique has to just
stand there in his little basket
716
00:36:13,542 --> 00:36:17,124
and pray that his opponent
is as bad a shot as him.
717
00:36:19,292 --> 00:36:20,832
His shot rings true,
718
00:36:20,833 --> 00:36:23,207
it blasts a hole through
the hot air balloon.
719
00:36:23,208 --> 00:36:25,666
The balloon deflates,
just as you can imagine.
720
00:36:25,667 --> 00:36:29,874
Le Pique and his second both
fall like rocks from the sky,
721
00:36:29,875 --> 00:36:31,208
and are dead.
722
00:36:32,250 --> 00:36:34,499
There's a certain
romance in dying for love
723
00:36:34,500 --> 00:36:37,207
by bullet in a hot air balloon.
724
00:36:37,208 --> 00:36:40,166
But being the unlucky
friend along for the ride,
725
00:36:40,167 --> 00:36:41,833
not quite as poetic.
726
00:36:45,542 --> 00:36:47,207
Swimming alone in
the middle of the ocean
727
00:36:47,208 --> 00:36:49,207
can be a risky
endeavor, as one man
728
00:36:49,208 --> 00:36:51,666
in the early 1960s can
certainly attest to.
729
00:36:53,417 --> 00:36:55,374
By 22 years old,
Australian Rodney Fox
730
00:36:55,375 --> 00:36:57,707
is already a
spearfishing legend.
731
00:36:57,708 --> 00:37:01,791
In 1963, he's determined to
hold onto his local title.
732
00:37:01,792 --> 00:37:05,666
He is free diving without
a tank, taking deep breaths,
733
00:37:05,667 --> 00:37:08,582
and combing the reefs
off of Aldinga Beach
734
00:37:08,583 --> 00:37:11,457
in search of exotic fish.
735
00:37:11,458 --> 00:37:13,041
What Rodney
doesn't realize
736
00:37:13,042 --> 00:37:16,707
is that he is also being hunted.
737
00:37:18,375 --> 00:37:20,208
Suddenly, he's
slammed from the side.
738
00:37:21,208 --> 00:37:22,624
His spear gun is
knocked from his hand.
739
00:37:22,625 --> 00:37:24,333
His mask is torn from his face.
740
00:37:25,875 --> 00:37:29,249
His first thought is that he's
been struck by a submarine.
741
00:37:29,250 --> 00:37:30,874
Rodney isn't sure
what's happening,
742
00:37:30,875 --> 00:37:33,666
but what he does know is that
he's moving through the water
743
00:37:33,667 --> 00:37:37,166
faster than he's ever
moved in his life.
744
00:37:37,167 --> 00:37:39,166
Rodney feels an intense pressure
745
00:37:39,167 --> 00:37:41,749
from his hip to
above his shoulder,
746
00:37:41,750 --> 00:37:45,499
and all the air just suddenly
expelled from his lungs.
747
00:37:45,500 --> 00:37:48,416
Then very quickly, he realizes
748
00:37:48,417 --> 00:37:51,291
that he's in the mouth
of a great white shark.
749
00:37:53,375 --> 00:37:54,624
He's weakened
by the loss of blood
750
00:37:54,625 --> 00:37:55,874
and also the lack of air.
751
00:37:55,875 --> 00:37:57,582
So he reaches for
his diver's knife
752
00:37:57,583 --> 00:38:00,500
and begins jabbing the shark
near his eyes, near his gills.
753
00:38:01,917 --> 00:38:04,625
Incredibly, he actually feels
the shark letting him go.
754
00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:08,374
Most would try
to flee from the shark,
755
00:38:08,375 --> 00:38:10,833
but quick-thinking Rodney
goes on the offensive.
756
00:38:12,042 --> 00:38:15,207
Rodney rushes toward
the shark and bear hugs it,
757
00:38:15,208 --> 00:38:20,499
wrapping his bloody arms around
its great, sandpaper-y belly.
758
00:38:20,500 --> 00:38:23,874
This is similar to a
tactic used by seals.
759
00:38:23,875 --> 00:38:26,499
When they're attacked
by great white sharks,
760
00:38:26,500 --> 00:38:28,582
they crowd close
to its midsection
761
00:38:28,583 --> 00:38:31,582
to stay away from
its deadly jaws.
762
00:38:31,583 --> 00:38:33,999
Now the shark wants
to get rid of Rodney,
763
00:38:34,000 --> 00:38:35,457
so it shakes him off.
764
00:38:35,458 --> 00:38:39,375
And once free, Rodney is
going for the surface.
765
00:38:40,667 --> 00:38:42,874
He looks down as he's
kicking his way to the surface,
766
00:38:42,875 --> 00:38:45,374
and through the bloody
murk of the water,
767
00:38:45,375 --> 00:38:47,874
he can see the shark
is coming at him.
768
00:38:47,875 --> 00:38:50,249
The shark goes in
for another bite.
769
00:38:50,250 --> 00:38:53,374
But to Rodney's surprise,
the shark doesn't bite him.
770
00:38:53,375 --> 00:38:56,749
It goes for the bag of
fish that he has speared.
771
00:38:56,750 --> 00:38:58,749
This may sound
like a lucky break,
772
00:38:58,750 --> 00:39:01,207
but the bag of fish is
still attached to him.
773
00:39:01,208 --> 00:39:03,249
So when the
shark takes off,
774
00:39:03,250 --> 00:39:05,332
Rodney is dragged by the bag
775
00:39:05,333 --> 00:39:08,124
back down toward
the ocean floor.
776
00:39:08,125 --> 00:39:12,499
By some last-minute miracle,
the line snaps on its own,
777
00:39:12,500 --> 00:39:15,917
and Rodney is free to
swim toward the surface.
778
00:39:18,542 --> 00:39:20,416
Rodney breaks the surface
and begins to gulp air,
779
00:39:20,417 --> 00:39:23,124
and he sees that a boat
is bearing down on him.
780
00:39:23,125 --> 00:39:26,207
And it turns out that the blood
that is pouring out of Rodney
781
00:39:26,208 --> 00:39:29,249
has created essentially a
dye marker to locate him.
782
00:39:29,250 --> 00:39:31,874
As Rodney is
pulled onto the boat,
783
00:39:31,875 --> 00:39:34,749
the only thing holding him
together is his wetsuit.
784
00:39:34,750 --> 00:39:36,874
He is in terrible condition.
785
00:39:36,875 --> 00:39:40,041
There's this giant bite
mark going from his shoulder
786
00:39:40,042 --> 00:39:43,999
all the way down to his hip,
and his organs are hanging out.
787
00:39:44,000 --> 00:39:48,082
Every rib on the left side
of his body is cracked,
788
00:39:48,083 --> 00:39:50,749
and his lung is punctured.
789
00:39:50,750 --> 00:39:53,416
It takes almost 500 stitches
790
00:39:53,417 --> 00:39:55,291
to put Rodney back
together again.
791
00:39:55,292 --> 00:39:56,542
But he survives
792
00:39:56,708 --> 00:39:59,375
and fights his way back
to a full recovery.
793
00:40:00,333 --> 00:40:01,582
Rodney's massive scar
794
00:40:01,583 --> 00:40:03,416
becomes the stuff of
spearfishing legend.
795
00:40:03,417 --> 00:40:05,666
Some say the encounter
inspired Peter Benchley
796
00:40:05,667 --> 00:40:07,750
when he was writing
the book "Jaws."
797
00:40:08,958 --> 00:40:12,457
2,000 years before Rodney's
unbelievable encounter,
798
00:40:12,458 --> 00:40:14,874
another man is
attacked by an animal,
799
00:40:14,875 --> 00:40:18,332
not exactly known for
its predatory instincts.
800
00:40:22,042 --> 00:40:26,374
Aeschylus is a famous
Greek playwright.
801
00:40:26,375 --> 00:40:31,416
He is the Shakespeare of
ancient Greek tragedies.
802
00:40:31,417 --> 00:40:34,874
He restructures how
Greek plays work,
803
00:40:34,875 --> 00:40:37,582
and he makes them more
fun and more interesting.
804
00:40:37,583 --> 00:40:40,499
He wins awards and
contests all the time.
805
00:40:40,500 --> 00:40:44,583
He is prolific and
an absolute genius.
806
00:40:45,542 --> 00:40:47,374
But one sunny afternoon,
807
00:40:47,375 --> 00:40:49,541
something happens that
seems like the plot
808
00:40:49,542 --> 00:40:51,749
in one of his own stories.
809
00:40:51,750 --> 00:40:55,749
So one day, Aeschylus is in
the southern coast of Sicily
810
00:40:55,750 --> 00:40:59,416
in a town called Gela,
sitting on a rock
811
00:40:59,417 --> 00:41:02,791
gazing upon the ocean,
812
00:41:02,792 --> 00:41:07,082
when all of a sudden
a really hard object
813
00:41:07,083 --> 00:41:08,542
hits him on the head.
814
00:41:09,708 --> 00:41:12,207
It turns out that
there's a hungry eagle
815
00:41:12,208 --> 00:41:13,624
that has been fortunate enough
816
00:41:13,625 --> 00:41:16,041
to obtain a nice-sized
tortoise, and it's flying about
817
00:41:16,042 --> 00:41:18,624
because it wants to
find a nice big rock
818
00:41:18,625 --> 00:41:20,291
so that it can drop it
819
00:41:20,292 --> 00:41:22,957
and have the tortoise shell
crack open, and it can feast.
820
00:41:22,958 --> 00:41:25,541
Unfortunately for him,
our playwright Aeschylus
821
00:41:25,542 --> 00:41:27,707
suffers from
male-pattern baldness.
822
00:41:27,708 --> 00:41:30,957
So from the sky, from
the eagle's perspective,
823
00:41:30,958 --> 00:41:36,374
his nice shiny scalp appears
to be the perfect rock.
824
00:41:36,375 --> 00:41:38,666
Aeschylus goes
down in history,
825
00:41:38,667 --> 00:41:40,624
not only as the
father of tragedies,
826
00:41:40,625 --> 00:41:43,457
but also as the only human being
827
00:41:43,458 --> 00:41:45,916
known to have died
from falling tortoise.
828
00:41:47,708 --> 00:41:50,916
Whether it's dog falls, free
falls, or freak accidents,
829
00:41:50,917 --> 00:41:52,874
they all have one
thing in common:
830
00:41:52,875 --> 00:41:55,791
they're the very best
life-or-death stories
831
00:41:55,792 --> 00:41:58,458
ever told on "The UnBelievable".