A HEART-stopping video shows a daredevil jump 65ft off a bridge into the freezing Highland river below.
Firefighter Scott MacLucas-Paton, 49, says he took the amazing leap because he “likes big jumps” and “it’s been a wee while since I was scared”.
Scott, from Skye, jumped from Dulsie Bridge, near Inverness, into the Findhorn River on Monday night.
The video shows Scott walking along the edge of the bridge as he balances on the stone barrier faced with a four foot drop on his right side, and a 65 foot drop on his left.
As Scott walks tentatively to the centre of the bridge he says: “It’s a wee while since I’ve been scared, but that’s a good thing I think, maybe, maybe not.”
Scott eventually reaches the centre of the bridge and turns towards the river as he takes in deep heavy breaths.
Scott then mutters “Oh motherf*****” and then nervously apologises for his swearing. Scott then turns his camera onto him and says: “A bit of nerves.”
Scott then stands on the edge of the bridge for a further 15 seconds before saying: “Good positive step.”
Scott leaps from the bridge, free falling for three seconds before plummeting into the river below.
The camera captures him plunging deep under the water before resurfacing and looking back up at the bridge.
Scott then blows a sigh of relief after plunging unscaved.
Scott today said he jumped because of the thrill he would get from completing it.
Scott said: “I was testing myself a wee bit. I hadn’t jumped this high for a wee while and I’m older. It was just a wee bit of a thrill.”
Scott added: “It’s the first time I had visited it. It’s a lovely place. The Findhorn is a spate river and this is a gorge so I knew it would be deep and slow moving. I had also seen footage of someone jumping off.”
Scott is no stranger to extreme adventures. Last month he climbed the Sgùrr nan Gillean on the Isle of Skye with no ropes or harnesses to protect him from the sheer drop below.
Scott was faced with drops of 50m (164ft) on the 964m (3163ft) high Munro as he scrambled to the top and down again revealing stomach churning drops along the way.
Scott said the reason he climbs without ropes is that it: “ hones my concentration and I feel really free and relaxed whilst doing it.”
