[imagesource: Twitter / @Alex170346741]
Nicknamed “the flying man” by French media, inventor Franky Zapata ended another trip on his homemade jetpack with a splash.
After impressing French President Emmanuel Macron by zooming high above 2019’s Bastille Day military display with his futuristic jetpack, Zapata tried to cross 35,4 kilometres of the English Channel three weeks later.
Onboard the hoverboard powered by four micro-turbines that he built and piloted himself, he splashed into the Channel, uninjured but disappointed.
However, he got right back up to complete the trip successfully in 22 minutes a week later.
With renewed confidence, this past weekend Zapata was impressing the crowds with his ‘flyboard’ at an exhibition event in the lake town of Biscarrosse.
Things were going well until he lost control of his invention and fell about 15 metres into the water of Lake Biscarosse.
Video footage shows the moment he spiralled out of control:
Here’s a shot from further away:
The BBC reported that the former jet ski champion had to be rushed to the hospital where officials said he was recovering well:
…the 40-year-old was conscious as emergency services pulled him from the lake and officials later told reporters that he was showing “good sensitivity and motor skills” while under observation in hospital.
“The flying man” was meant to perform on his flyboard a few times over the weekend, but his appearances had to be cancelled in the wake of the accident, confirmed Biscarosse mayor Hélène Larrezet.
Shame.
We will leave you with a video of him successfully crossing the English Channel, an achievement he called “crazy”:
[source:bbc]
