Yosemite Vernal Falls?

Question

I know that you can swim in the pool above vernal falls, but every year there a few people who are swept over the falls and killed.

Question

1. How many people survived the fall?

2. Some suggest to keep part and when you are at the brink of the falls, jump out as far as you can because there is a pretty deep pool below on the right side (http://radified.com/HalfDome/uwilldie.htm) Will it work???

3. With quick medical assistance, can the lives of some of these people be saved? how long does it take to pull someone out of the pool bellow the falls, not too long I bet!

Answer 1

the falls are 317 feet high.

Falling that far, you'd hit the bottom in 8 seconds, going the terminal velocity of a human body which is about 120 mph.

Hitting the water (or rocks) at that speed is fatal.

so for 1) nobody

2) jump as far as you like, you aren't going to survive

3) it's a recovery mission, not a rescue mission.  Yosemite has good medical facilities but there's no rush. You're dead.

vernal falls: http://www.americansouthwest.net/califor...

speed calculator: http://www.angio.net/personal/climb/spee...