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Parachuter base jumps from the top of Rochester Castle after sneaking past staff

A parachuter could have damaged an English heritage site after they launched themselves from the top of a 34 metre castle.

A YouTube video shows a person wearing a body suit, leap from the castle keep and then parachute to the ground.

The base jump was uploaded to the video sharing platform on Saturday, May 18.

Someone parachuting off Rochester Castle - YouTube user JensLaubinger

A base jump, is where people parachute from buildings and structures rather than out of an aeroplane.

Medway Council has confirmed the jumper did not have permission to do the stunt.

Their parachute was hidden and staff at the castle were not aware of their intentions.

Parachuter jumps off Rochester Castle (11120663)
Parachuter jumps off Rochester Castle (11120663)

Medway Council’s Head of Sport Leisure, Tourism and Heritage, Bob Dimond, said: “The safety of all of our visitors is of paramount importance to us and it is disappointing that two individuals ignored the safety barriers at the top of the keep.

"They could have hurt themselves and damaged the Norman keep.

"We will be reviewing our security measures to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

The castle's Norman tower-keep was built in around 1127 by the Archbishop of Canterbury, William of Corbeil, under the instruction of Henry I.

It is three floors high and stands at 113 feet.

Though the height seems less death defying than sky diving, it is often more dangerous to jump closer to the ground as there is less time to rectify any problem with the jump

Someone who knows that all too well is base jumper Chad Smith, who suffered injuries to his pelvis and vertebrae when plunging 384 foot off the White Cliffs of Dover.

The 27-year-old confirmed the Rochester Castle jumper was not him.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway

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