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TODAY IN HISTORY: Suspicions raised after skydiver falls 1200m and survives

Nick Pearson
Nick Pearson

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Experienced UK skydiver Victoria Cilliers survived a 1200m fall after her main and reserve parachutes failed to open successfully on April 5, 2015.

Cilliers landed on a soft and newly ploughed field, suffering major injuries but surviving.

Attribution: Not Supplied
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Remarkably it was the second near-death experience she had survived in a week.

Days earlier a leak filled her home with gas.

Cilliers smelled the gas and realised something was amiss.

Attribution: PA
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But the two near-death experiences drew the attention of police.

It was soon discovered that her husband Emile had opened a gas valve in the home.

When that didn't work, he tampered with her parachutes.

Attribution: AAP
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The only person to live through the sinking, Lim's ordeal represents one of the most remarkable stories of survival known to man.

After spending more than two hours in the ocean following the sinking, clinging to anything that floated by, Lim came across a raft a crew member had deployed but failed to embark.

Onboard the raft were supplies such as biscuits, water and milk.

But it was Lim's ability to catch fish, birds and even a shark that kept him alive.

The fish he ate raw, while Lim claimed he dried pieces of the poultry and shark and ate them like jerky. 

Attribution: Supplied
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