Kid "sky diving" off bridge - dangerous or earning a living?

[webfact]

Kid "sky diving" off bridge - dangerous or earning a living?

 

video screenshot

 

KANCHANABURI: -- Video has been posted online that shows a young child jumping off a bridge into a river in Kanchanaburi province.

 

The young boy is egged on by tourists who are willing to pay him 100 baht for the stunt. He jumps into the river far below as boats ply routes in the area.

 

Sanook.com reported that the jumping was taking place at the Mon Bridge in Sangklaburi near the Burmese border in western Thailand.

 

They said that netizens online were concerned about the possible danger and that they had asked the authorities to investigate.

 

Sanook said that authorities in the area told them that they were aware of this activity and that it was a daily occurrence. All they did was warn the parents and children involved that it was dangerous and they should take care.

 

Then they left it at that giving no indication that they would stop it.

 

But Sanook also contacted UNICEF and quoted an unnamed spokesman who said they were worried about the safety of children doing this.

 

They were also concerned that it may be keeping the children out of school because they would not want to miss the opportunity to make money.

 

It could be affecting their future by depriving them of education, the UN body said.

 

Source: Sanook

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-02-17

 

[Thaiwrath]

You wouldn't get me up there, never mind jumping !

[fruitman]

That ain't high.

 

I bet he also drives motobike, without helmet and insurance of course. 

[PETERTHEEATER]

This is news? It must be a really slow day.....

[JAS21]

At least he looked left and right first .... that is almost a 'first' in Thailand ...

[LennyW]

Nothing new about this, the kids have been doing this at this bridge every time i have been there in the past 20 years.

[scotchonrocks]

Thais have to be the most opportunistic people on the face of the earth and this shows the kind of extremes they will go to make dosh. I recall a family I drove with one time and the young daughter, would not have been more than 5 years old  would massage my neck from behind while I was driving. After finishing, she would say "money" and put her hand out!

[The Old Bull]

The problem is in Thailand money buys you more than stuff. It gives you status and puts you above the law. Back home millionaires are just regular folk maybe have a bigger house and a nicer ride but no body cares.

[stoneyboy]

Better to be doing this than stabbing up your school buddies I'd say.

[ratcatcher]

18 hours ago, LennyW said:

Nothing new about this, the kids have been doing this at this bridge every time i have been there in the past 20 years.

Exactly!

Kids have been doing daredevil stunts for as long as there have been kids. It's what kids do, jumping off bridges, railroad trestles, rocks into lakes, rivers and  the sea. The lad appears to be quite tough and an able swimmer and probably a lot smarter than some of the young morons attached to their computer games and smart phones.

Just because tourists giive him money shows a touch of entrepreneurial spirit on his part. 

As Lenny W., said, they've been at it for years. Good luck to them.

[Srikcir]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

authorities in the area told them that they were aware of this activity and that it was a daily occurrence.

As are their "commissions"?

[northernboy]

How many western sports are dangerous to children long term? think of America football or boxing all have brain damage long term. 

[Ian Maxwell]

Wow that little guy has a set big cojones thats very high up ! fruition I would like to see you try jumping off that small pedestal in the raging wind for sure your shorts will be a different colour when you get out of the water or on the way down if you make it ! LoL ! he is only a little fella good luck to him and good fortune as well while it lasts ! thats much higher than a top board in most swimming pools in the UK .

[Gandtee]

Isn't this something that real boys do, or did, before being addicted to mobile phones and computer games. Well done son?

[snowgard]

How many kid's jump daily from the 3/5/10m tower in public pools?

 

Is it dangerous? Yes for sure, but no one is worry!!!

[louse1953]

22 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

This is news? It must be a really slow day.....

Ozzy kids do that every weekend down the beach,goes back to before i was a kid.

[farcanell]

25 minutes ago, louse1953 said:

Ozzy kids do that every weekend down the beach,goes back to before i was a kid.

Yep... been there... done that. (Disused quarries usually)

 

unfortunately I never got paid for it.

[JohnnyJazz]

 

[kannot]

22 hours ago, JAS21 said:

At least he looked left and right first .... that is almost a 'first' in Thailand ...

but  stupidly not  down?

[FitnessHealthTravel]

I agree he probably does worse stuff on a motorbike. That's not so high anyway. The real danger is jumping just before a boat comes under the bridge and landing on it...