Flip through the history books and you’ll find no shortage of daring feats performed by history’s greatest daredevils. One such feat was performed in 1984 by Czechoslovakian-born stuntman Karel Soucek. More than a daredevil, Soucek was an inventor, and he created a custom built shock-absorbent barrel that was 9 feet long and 5 feet in diameter, which he used to go over Niagara Falls. The stunt was a success, of sorts, but while Soucek didn’t die he did sustain several injuries.
Still, considering the feat accomplished, Soucek decided to build a museum at the base of the falls dedicated to the feat and to his equipment. In order to finance the museum, Soucek decided to go from another drop in the barrel, this time into a tank of water, 180 feet from the top of the Houston Astrodome. Famed daredevil Evel Knievel called the stunt “the most dangerous I’ve ever seen,” trying his best to talk Soucek out of it, but Soucek would not be dissuaded. The stunt took place as part of a Thrill Show and Destruction Derby on January 20, 1985.
Things did not go well, unfortunately. When the barrel was released it immediately started to spin and missed its target, hitting the rim of the water tank instead of landing in the center. The 37-year-old Soucek suffered severe injuries to his head, chest and abdomen and died at a nearby hospital while the show was still going on.
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