Bungee jumping is often described as a once-in-a-lifetime thrill, but for Australian traveler Erin Langworthy, a 2012 jump in Zambia became a harrowing brush with death. While visiting the region, she decided to leap from a bridge spanning the Zambezi River, an area known for powerful currents and wildlife. Moments after she jumped, her bungee cord snapped, sending her plunging roughly 360 feet into the river below.

Footage later shared online showed the cord breaking mid-air and Langworthy hitting the water before being swept downstream. She later recalled that, by coincidence, she had joked on a postcard to her mother the day before about “saying goodbye” ahead of the jump—a message that has since taken on new meaning for her family.

Despite the danger, Langworthy managed to stay conscious and work her way toward safety, even while her ankles remained bound. She eventually freed herself when the broken cord caught on rocks. A staff member from the bungee company reached her in the river and helped bring her to shore.

Her rescue was only the first step. Transport to a hospital in Victoria Falls took several hours, and she arrived with partially collapsed lungs and severe bruising. Doctors placed her on a ventilator and monitored her closely because of the contaminated water she had swallowed. Remarkably, she suffered no broken bones.

The bungee operator visited her afterward to apologize and express relief at her survival. Although bungee jumping has a very low fatality rate, experts note that surviving a cord failure is extraordinarily rare.