Czech parachutist lands at 5000m above sea level in Himalayas

Novak is the first Czech to perform a parachute jump with landing at such a high altitude.

The 11 parachutists jumped from the helicopter on the slope of Ama Dablam, close to the world´s highest peak, Mount Everest.

The helicopter took them to the altitude of almost 7000 metres above see level where they jumped.

"It was a jump from a small height, without a free fall," Novak said.

"We opened our parachutes right after we left the helicopter," he added.

All parachutists managed the landing without suffering any injury.

Novak said the parachute measured 33.5 square metres, or twice as much as a regular one, because the air is thin in such a high altitude and the parachute badly carries.

He said the parachutists used special equipment, mainly an oxygen mask. During the jump he carried his own pressure bottle with the gas fitted to his side.

The condition of participation in the feat were minimally 200 jumps. It cost some 25,000 dollars.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz