Bear Grylls’ teenage boy and the parachute stunt that was just too crazy for his daredevil father – because his harness was hooked into his flesh

  • Bear Grylls’ 18-year-old son Jesse jumped from a bridge while a parachute was pierced through him shoulders
  • In this shocking clip, Jesse takes a deep breathe before launching himself forward.
  • He soars through air and pulls on his parachute cord to float to safety. 
  • Stanislav Aksenov joined him, who invented suspension-base jumping. 
  • Jesse and Jesse shared a clip base jump off a cliff in Italy’s Dolomites this summer










Bear Grylls is well-known for his fearlessness. Jesse, Bear Grylls’ 18-year-old son, seems determined to surpass his TV survival expert when he comes to daredevil stunts.

The teenager has carried out a dangerous parachute jump from a bridge – with the stomach-churning difference that the chute was attached to him by hooks pierced into the skin of his back.

A disturbing video of Jesse, just before the jump, is posted on social media. He is seen clenching and squeezing his fists while four metal hooks were inserted into his flesh around the shoulder blades.

Four metal hooks are inserted into the skin around Jesse's shoulder blades as he waits to make the jump

As Jesse waits for the jump, four metal hooks are placed in the skin around his shoulder blades. 

It is not known whether an anaesthetic was used during the procedure.

Jesse then stands on the rail of a bridge. Jesse jumps and is accompanied by a companion who holds the parachute.

Despite the force generated, his piercings are not freed and he safely lands after gliding through a valley at an unknown location.

After a deep breath Jesse leaps off the bridge. A companion holds the parachute which opens seconds after Jesse jumps

After taking a deep breath, Jesse jumps off the bridge. Jesse jumps off the bridge with a companion holding his parachute.

This phenomenon is called suspension base jumping. It was created by Stanislav Aksenov (Russian thrill-seeker), who joined Jesse in the jump.

It combines base jumping – parachuting from a stationary point – with Mr Aksenov’s love of piercings. Sometimes, blood is drawn from leaps.

After the flesh has closed, the hooks are removed. They are said to leave small scars. Jesse described it as ‘the most intense experience’, adding: ‘I love that feeling of falling with nothing.’

Bear, his father, 47, was proud of him but begged him to not repeat it.

The hooks are removed afterwards and are said to leave small scars after the flesh has closed up. Jesse described it as ‘the most intense experience’

After the hooks have been removed, small scars will be left on the skin. Jesse described it as ‘the most intense experience’ 

He wrote: ‘You smashed it! But it will never happen again. Now you’re world record holder for youngest ever skin parachute jump, just enjoy it.’ He added: ‘No more!’

Many commenting on the video showed sympathy for Jesse’s mother Shara, who also has sons Marmaduke, 15 and Huckleberry, 12, with Grylls.

Television presenter Beverley Turner wrote: ‘Oh how does your wonderful mother sleep at night?’

Another user commented: ‘As a mum myself this makes me feel so uneasy…and very queasy! Seeing you do this, it feels right on the edge young Jesse, please stay safe.’

Jesse soars through the air before pulling on his parachute cord and floating to safety

Jesse soars through high air, before pulling on his parachute cord to lift him to safety. 

Many expressed sympathy for Jesse's mother Shara, who lives with a family of thrill seekers

Many expressed sympathy to Shara, Jesse’s mother who lives with a large family of thrill seekers. 

Jesse spent the summer base jumping across Europe. Base is an acronym for building, antenna, span, and earth – the objects that a person can jump from.

His father shared a video of the teenager jumping from a cliff in the Italian Dolomites, writing: ‘Jesse is now 18 and his own man, ready for life… He is kind, humble, hard working, original and I can’t stop him jumping off stuff.

‘This is his first big wall base jump. Under canopy by ten seconds or it’s toast. As we say, “Pull high don’t die”.’

Jesse takes a deep breath before taking off and launching himself off the cliff. He glides through the air, before pulling on his parachute cord to lift him to safety.

Sergey Kotelnikov was the first person to successfully complete a suspension jump from a base. He did this by jumping from an electricity pole.

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