This is the moment a high diver was almost run over by a boat after jumping from an iconic bridge rebuilt after being destroyed by Croatian shelling during the breakup of former Yugoslavia.
In footage of the incident, the man can be seen preparing to jump from the rebuilt ‘Stari Most’ bridge in the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina and is doing exercises and stretching himself.
But he finally decides to take the leap and plunge down into the Neretva River, at exactly that moment fast approaching boat passes underneath.
It was only by the matter of a few think that the boat avoided running over the man and would almost certainly have caused serious injury.
The traditional jump from the Stari Most bridge represents a centuries-old tradition in Mostar that takes place every year at the end of July.
The only time it was not carried out was when the bridge had been destroyed by shelling before being later rebuilt.
Since the Neretva River is very cold, it is quite a risk that requires only the most skilled and prepared jumpers, who can jump in two categories: on the feet and on the head.
The formal competition was established in 1968, and according to local media, the price for the jump is EUR 25 (GBP 20).
Stari Most was destroyed on 9th November, 1993, due to shelling by the Croatian Defence Council in the Croatian–Bosnian War. It is also known as Mostar Bridge and is considered as an exemplary piece of Balkan Islamic architecture.
It was rebuilt after the war and reopened to the public on 23rd July, 2004. The commander of the Croat forces who fired 60 shows before the bridge finally collapsed justified the action by saying it was a military target.
The bridge is 24 metres (nearly 79 feet) high.
