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Man makes leap from height taller than Leaning Tower of Pisa, lands in small natural pool

Posted at 7:38 PM, Aug 22, 2015
and last updated 2015-08-22 21:42:26-04

They say it’s not the destination but the journey, but in this case the trip and the final landing spot are both enough to inspire terror–no matter which of the available angles you watch the plunge in.

Laso Schaller reportedly set a world record for this leap, which according to Red Bull measures in at nearly 59 meters (about 193.5 feet) and taller than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The video’s description states the jump took place at Cascata Del Salto in Maggia, Switzerland.

According to Red Bull’s website, the pool in question is 8-meters deep (about 26.25 feet). The website states the team built a platform at the site to give the Brazilian-born, Swiss-raised Lasso–a 27-year-old canyoneering expert–a clear exit to jump with enough space to avoid the rock wall. The crew also explored the water ahead of time, and they used scuba tanks to aerate the water in order to help soften the force of the landing.

Click here for more of the details behind the jump and preparation.