Kayakers plunge 98 feet over falls; ‘what a madman’

Witnesses could hardly believe two kayakers would take the plunge over Dangar Falls. They were referred to online as "daredevils" and (...)

Torrential rain in Australia resulted in Dangar Falls in New South Wales to become a roaring, 98-foot waterfall, one that a pair of kayakers apparently couldn’t resist taking the plunge over.

The kayakers, referred to by commenters on Facebook as daredevils and lunatics, among other things, were identified on the “Today” show of Australia as Lachie Carracher and Andrew Hemmerle.

Riley Carter posted footage of Carracher’s drop on Facebook, and you can hear him or a bystander say, “What a madman.”

Carracher, who appeared on the “Today” show with black eyes and battered nose and forehead, the result of hitting his face on his kayak upon landing, said in the interview, “It’s all calculated risk.”

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The two are professional kayakers who have trained over 15 years and have descended waterfalls internationally, and some with steeper drops than this.

“With the correct safety, experience and technique, it’s actually not that dangerous,” Hemmerle said in the interview. “I wouldn’t recommend this to novice kayakers. This isn’t something you’d go out and paddle without the experience, but it’s actually not that bad.”

As one of the hosts said, “Don’t try this at home.”