Russian daredevil survives 9-story plunge, while on fire

23-year-old Alexander Chernikov is an extreme sports thrill-seeker. Last week, he jumped from a nine-story building into a pile of snow, not before lighting his clothes on fire.

Chernikov’s plunge, by his own account, was a success. He survived and was able to walk away on his own two feet. Immediately afterwards, he even gave an interview to a television crew who came to film the stunt. A couple of police officers were also waiting for Chernikov, when he landed.

The jump was recorded from at least three different perspectives: friends filmed from the rooftop and the ground, and Chernikov also strapped a camera to his head.

Warning: Please, kids, don’t try this at home. Chernikov is a trained professional, or something.

Another first-person video is available only on YouTube’s website.

In an interview with Moskovsky Komsomolets, Chernikov said police hurried to the location of his stunt, after learning about it, forcing him to deviate some from the jump he had planned. “I don’t remember the fall itself. I only remember the weird pain in my stomach and my chest, like I’d been hit by a truck. But I came around after five minutes.

Some media outlets reported that Chernikov suffered serious injuries and was taken to the hospital after his jump, though the daredevil himself says a doctor’s examination revealed no broken bones or damage to his internal organs.