3 weeks ago
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Vera Mol, 17, plunged to her death in a bungee jump tragedy in northern Spain after a disastrous mix-up over instructions.
Vera Mol, the teenage victim who died in a bungee jumping accident (Image: CEN)
A teenage girl tragically lost her life in a horrifying bungee jump incident, due to the "poor English" of an inept instructor leading to fatal confusion.
Vera Mol, a 17-year-old from the Netherlands, met her untimely end in August 2015 when she jumped off a bridge in northern Spain before her safety rope was properly secured, following a catastrophic misunderstanding of instructions.
The Dutch teenager was part of a group of 13 Dutch and Belgian adolescents, all under 18, participating in a bungee jumping activity near Cabezón de la Sal, Cantabria.
Vera Mol was the penultimate jumper and it was her maiden attempt at the extreme sport. She stepped off the bridge and fell approximately 32 metres into the riverbed below, resulting in her death.
Prior to her leap, the instructor had yelled "no jump" - words that a court heard she may have tragically misinterpreted as "now jump".
She was just 17 when she died (Image: FACEBOOK)
The court ruled that this tragic incident could have been prevented if the instructor had used the clear command "don't jump", instead of the ambiguous phrase, reports <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/teenager-jumped-death-during-bungee-36561286" rel="Follow" target="_self">the Mirror</a>.
Judges determined that the confusing language was a significant factor in the fatal accident, stating that the instructor's English was "macarronico", which translates to "very bad".
The court concluded that the instructor's proficiency in English was not up to the standard required for guiding foreigners in "something as delicate as jumping into the void from an elevated point".
The instructor faced charges in court for causing Vera's death. Additionally, the director of the bungee jumping company was also prosecuted for negligent homicide, according to reports at the time.
The bridge she jumped from (Image: YOUTUBE)
Flowtrack, which operates the bungee jumping company that employed the worker, claimed it was an accident. Nevertheless, Martijn Klom, from the firm, acknowledged that her death resulted from a misunderstanding.
He confirmed that she received confusing instructions and that she was attached to the rope when she jumped - but without being properly secured to the bridge.
Alongside the fatal language mix-up, the court heard a series of appalling safety failures that determined Vera's fate.
The instructor had failed to attach the 17-year-old to any safety line during the climb to the bridge, leaving her standing unprotected just moments before the tragic jump.
Judges were also informed the adventure company failed to provide a secure waiting area for the group, forcing teenagers to stand at what was described as "the edge of the abyss" as they awaited their turn.
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The staff were also condemned for failing to check Vera's ID to verify she was over 18. Being only 17, she was legally too young to participate and the company failed to seek permission from her parents before allowing her onto the bridge.
Vera's heartbroken family have since demanded stricter safety regulations to prevent another young life being lost in such a senseless and preventable tragedy.
English (US) · 