Ernesto Gainza plummeting 4,200m with the world’s smallest parachute (Picture: Caters)

Most people have had dreams where they are falling.

But what if you were armed with just a bed sheet to slow your descent?

That was the size of Ernesto Gainza’s canopy as he plummeted 4,200m (14,000ft) into the record books using the world’s smallest parachute.

During his three-and-a-half-minute descent, he risked a spin that would have killed him but managed a perfect landing in the Palm Drop Zone at the Skydive Dubai Club.


‘It was awesome, amazing and emotional,’ he said after landing his 3.2 sq m (35 sq ft) canopy.

‘I had to keep my body really straight, as even a little input from my hips or turning left or right could make the parachute turn.’



The extreme athlete has already performed more than 7,000 jumps but spent a year in training for his attempt.He said: ‘Spinning as you fall is simulated and they taught me how to react to different situations, such as if I feel like I’m going to pass out.

‘When you jump from that height, vision is compromised as the eyes lose blood the quickest and it goes from the brain to the lower part of the body.’

Gainza’s jump took 0.18 sq m off the previous record for smallest canopy, set by Brazilian Luigi Cani in 2006.

As the Venezuelan was presented with his certificate by Guinness World Records, he said: ‘It’s been my long-time dream to prove to other human beings it doesn’t matter how much sacrifice and effort you have to go through to achieve something that you want. You just have to go for it.’