Head for heights: Tribal daredevils are just inches from death during bizarre bungee-jumping ritual



'Land Diving' sees men jump from a 30ft tower with just two pieces of vine tied to each ankle

These are the incredible images of men and children who quite literally have a head for heights - as they risk their lives in a bizarre bungee jumping ritual.

The bonkers tradition called Land Diving sees young men and boys climb to the top of a wooden tower and throw themselves off it head first, with only pieces of tree vine preventing them from certain death.

The tribal daredevils have just two pieces of vine tied to each ankle, which acts as a bungee cord as they plummet towards the ground from the top of the 30ft high tower.

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High flyers: The tribesman leap from a 30ft tower Daring: The ritual on Vanuatu is considered a rite of passage for young men, who have just two pieces of vine attached to their ankles



The wooden towers are built on a hill and as the person jumps the platform beneath them gives way and leaves them swinging by their ankles just inches from the ground.

The unusual tradition takes place during April and May in the South Pacific Island of Vanuatu.

It is known locally as the Naghol and is considered a rite of passage for young men on the island.

Danger: The ritual is extremely risky with some men suffering dislocated ankles and others having died

Inches from death: The men are jerked back just above the ground

Photographer Steve Davey was lucky enough to witness the land diving take place on the island and said it was a great experience to be able to capture the ancient tradition on camera.

The 46-year-old from Brixton, London said: ‘I've always wanted to see land diving since I watched it on a David Attenborough documentary when I was a child and it was fascinating to finally witness it in person.

He said: ‘Land diving is a real part of the island's culture, the woman dress in traditional dress and the elder men chant as the men dive from the top of the tower.

‘The tower is just pieces of wood tied together with vines, it takes between two-three weeks to create and features a series of platforms at different heights.

‘It can only be used once because the platform is designed to crack and give way when you jump from it.

Celebration: Land Diving is a part of the island's culture, with the elder men chanting as the ritual takes place

‘There are boys only about seven or ten years old doing it, they start from the lower platforms and the men leap from the top.

‘It's quite haunting to witness, you watch it knowing people have died doing it before and that's always in the back of your mind and then you hear the crack off the platform as they jump, it's incredibly scary.

‘There's no set science to it, it's quite easy for it to go horribly wrong.

‘If the vines around your ankles are too short you could dislocate your ankles, if they're too long or they snap you could kill yourself.

‘But it's something they hold in high regard and it's quite special to watch.’

Video: Vine breaks as tribesman dives at Pentecost Naghol Ceremony