Daredevil jumpers take a leap of faith at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Daredevil adrenaline junkies have taken to the skies at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Base jumpers dive off the Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.  Lewis Jones.Base jumpers dive off the Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.  Lewis Jones.
Base jumpers dive off the Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Lewis Jones.

Three base jumpers took on the challenge of leaping from the Big One rollercoaster, in a resort first.

Base jumping is parachuting from a structure or cliff, rather than from the considerably higher altitudes of a plane as seen in traditional skydiving.

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Julian Deplidge, from Cleveleys, led the trio of adventurers in their mission, as they jumped from around 170-feet up the coaster on to a grassed area inside the park.

Base jumpers dive off the Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.  Lewis Jones.Base jumpers dive off the Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.  Lewis Jones.
Base jumpers dive off the Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Lewis Jones.

Despite initial hopes to take off from the ride’s summit, the available landing space between the tracks of the Big Dipper and one of the park’s main thoroughfares meant they upped the risk factor by lowering the start point.

Julian, who is friends with Pleasure Beach managing director Amanda Thompson, through the ice show business, said the Big One jump was one of the lowest ones he and fellow jumpers Lewis Jones and Daniel Witchalls had tackled.

“Living locally it’s really nice to now be able to walk or drive past the Big One and think I have jumped off that,” he said, after the feat which took place in perfect conditions of blue skies and not the slightest breeze.

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“The Pleasure Beach had faith and trust in us and have been really supportive in making it happen.”

Base jumpers dive off the Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.Base jumpers dive off the Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Base jumpers dive off the Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

The park opened its gates early to allow visitors in to see the stunt, and a crowd gathered as the group climbed the Big One’s staircase ready for the off.

As each one took their leap of faith, there were gasps from onlookers as the specialist base jump parachutes sprang to life allowing them to drift to the ground.

Julian, Dan and Lewis will later this month be taking part in the first Blackpool Airgamez, a three-day contest and celebration of the extreme sport.

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A 300ft crane will be in place at the Waterloo Headland, South Shore, on Saturday to Monday, August 29 to 31, where 50 top base jumpers will compete for the title of UK base jump champion 2015. Julian added: “We wanted to build an extreme sports festival, but starting simply with a base jumping event.

“We wanted to offer the prize of jumping from the Big One to the champion, but on the busy Bank Holiday, what wasn’t possible - but Amanda said we could come and do it before the event.”