Skydiver relives horror 4,000m free-fallA skydiving instructor...

Skydiver relives horror 4,000m free-fall
A skydiving instructor in New Zealand has spoken for the first time about surviving a 4,000-metre plunge when both his parachutes failed.

Michael Holmes had been filming other skydivers over the North Island resort town of Lake Taupo when the incident happened.

Mr Holmes captured his frightening free-fall on a helmet-mounted camera as he spiralled towards earth after his emergency chute became entangled in his main chute.

The 25-year-old blacked out during the rapid descent, coming to just before crash landing near the shores of Lake Taupo.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Mr Holmes said he was convinced he was going to die.

He sustained only a punctured lung and an ankle fracture after a blackberry bush broke his fall.

However, the drama has not done much for his business.

Eyewitness John Siddles and his 18-year-old son, Adam, who were weighing up whether to take the plunge themselves, decided to give skydiving a miss.