Here ya go Martin!  Let's hear it for Mirage!

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/cat-survives-nearly-400-foot-fall-utah-national-park-killed-2-owners-rcna204831

Noel

Why do people climb over safety railings in such dangerous locations??

Tragic for the owners.

 

Surface area in relation to mass is a cats super power. Stunning how far they can fall, in many cases with no injury.

My cat, of course weighs one million tons and the impact would cause an earthquake. When we move he will have a garden so hopefully trim down.

 

 

51 minutes ago, Christopher Low said:

Why do people climb over safety railings in such dangerous locations??

 

That's the question. Some people have a dumbed down sense of danger. 

51 minutes ago, martin-w said:

That's the question. Some people have a dumbed down sense of danger. 

They took their cat - in a basket - with them?

Me thinks they weren't intending to return behind that safety barrier....

2 hours ago, martin-w said:

3 hours ago, Christopher Low said:

Why do people climb over safety railings in such dangerous locations??

 

That's the question. Some people have a dumbed down sense of danger. 

4 hours ago, martin-w said:

Surface area in relation to mass is a cats super power. Stunning how far they can fall, in many cases with no injury.

Yup notice how the fur ball went spread eagle with all paws, that was to increase drag, amazing how animals just know how to instinctively do these things

 

1 hour ago, Mike A said:

BECAUSE IT"S THERE - George Mallary

The difference is Mallory wasn't doing it for that perfect Instagram shot, he was actually putting his entire life into preparation and execution

Reminds me of...

By Failing to Prepare, You Are Preparing to Fail

-Benjamin Franklyn

I like ole BF, he had some of the best quotes for that era, maybe some of these Instagram Kids could learn a thing or two from him

5 hours ago, Christopher Low said:

Why do people climb over safety railings in such dangerous locations??

Falling, drowning, getting lost, and other dangers usually befall people who have no experience in the environment they are visiting.  In this case they probably wanted to look straight down over the edge.  For the inexperienced dizziness and/or vertigo makes them lose their balance.

I've done it myself.  But I have never had a fear of heights and, before I got old, excellent balance.  It's not an infrequent occurance in our western national parks.  But you have to make sure the ground is solid before attempting it.

My brother once took a picture of me standing on the edge of a cliff in Canyonlands.

Noel

52 minutes ago, Matthew Kane said:

The difference is Mallory wasn't doing it for that perfect Instagram shot, he was actually putting his entire life into preparation and execution

Here’s a much more accurate answer:

8 hours ago, Matthew Kane said:

amazing how animals just know how to instinctively do these things

 

So do humans. The other day I tripped over a granite step. They vary in height, so easily done. My hands shot out without me even having to think about it, my grasp on the tub of coleslaw released and the poor comestible was left to fend for itself. 

Don't worry, the coleslaw survived unharmed. Which is different to the hot chocolate last time it happened.

 

I tripped over a kerb five years ago, and used the side of my head on a street sign to stop my forward motion. I then dropped to the ground and broke my left hip. I suspect that I haven't quite grasped this "using hands and arms to save myself" technique yet