An ordinarily fun 'zorbing' adventure turned tragic when the gigantic inflatable ball carrying two men plunged off a mountain and crashed into a frozen lake in northern Russia ending the life of one of the riders, The Moscow News reported Wednesday.
Denis Burakov, 27, died on his way to the hospital after suffering of a fractured vertebrae, three broken ribs and contusions of the heart and lung. The other rider, Vladimir Shcherbov, 33, is still hospitalized and suffers from severe bruising and body lacerations, a statement issued by investigators reported. The pair was retrieved from the zorb after a six hour rescue mission.
The accident occurred on Jan. 3 at Mussa-Achitaro Mountain in Russia’s North Caucasus after a zorb went off trail and fell down a 70-80-degree slope into the Gonachkhir Gorge. The accident was captured on video and posted on YouTube by one of the passengers' friends.
According to Moscow News, Police have opened a criminal investigation against the attraction owners on providing services that did not comply with health and safety regulations and resulted in death. The culprits, who fled the scene after the incident, could spend up to six years in prison.
*Zorbing is a recreational sport that consists of running down a hill in an orb.
