Rachel Mack
New Zealand paramedic and Pilates instructor Anna Cochrane took the record after performing a trapeze routine on a ladder attached to a hot air balloon at 10,000 plus feet. The previous record was held at 2,171 feet. Talk about being an overachiever.
Cochrane dislocated her rib midway through her routine, which took place this past Valentine’s Day lasting for just over 5 minutes. On board the hot air balloon was a camera crew, the pilot, two witnesses for the record, a safety rigger, and three other skydivers. The two witnesses included one specialist and one independent witness which is required by Guinness World Records rules.
After performing her routine, Cochrane commented: “A little part of me thought that this was all too big and it couldn’t happen, but the whole thing went so smoothly, I am lucky to have had the perfect people involved to help me achieve it.” Prior to making the attempt, Cochrane has had an enormous amount of training in circus aerials but is only a one year veteran in trapeze arts.
“Compared to other circus aerial apparatuses, I have found the trapeze has been the most challenging to learn […] You are essentially bending yourself around a steel bar so I’ve basically been covered in bruises and hands full of rips and calluses for the past year!” -Anna Cochrane
Cochrane had planned to skydive from the balloon once finished, but her dislocated rib prevented her from having the most epic ending. Maybe next time…