Jesse Coombs, 40, took kayaking to the extreme when he became the first person to successfully kayak down the 30metre Abiqua Falls in Oregon, US.

Capturing the exact moment Jesse plummeted down the 30m high waterfall was extreme sports photographer and videographer, Lucas Gilman. 
Together the pair hiked to the remote waterfall where they prepared for one of their toughest challenges.

 

Daredevil kayaker Jesse Coombs goes over the top of the 30m waterfall and below, the yellow kayak can just be made out as the nose enters the water at the bottom of Abiqua Falls in Oregan, U.S.

Before Jesse, only one person had ever attempted to kayak down this waterfall - athlete Tim Gross who landed badly and dislocated both his knees.   But despite the risks, determined Jesse positioned himself in his kayak at the top of the near vertical waterfall and plummeted into the pool below.

Plunging down the waterfall in just three seconds, Lucas faced the mammoth task of capturing Jesse's dizzying descent on camera.

Using five cameras including three video cameras each positioned at various points, Lucas watched nervously as Jesse dived into the pool below and miraculously escaped without serious injury.  It took two days to prepare for the shot, to ensure Jesse would not get hurt.

'We had to set up a zip line to capture the fall at the right angle and there were certain safety procedures we needed to put in place, which included positioning two kayakers in the pool below which was tricky.

Coming back to the surface: Mr Coombs appears unscathed from the whitewater at the bottom of the waterfall. There were two kayakers in the pool to ensure that he did not get trapped underwater and drown

'Abiqua Falls isn't the highest waterfall but it is considered the hardest.  The lip of Abiqua Falls is very tricky, going from flat to vertical very quickly, so getting the right angle to hit the water is really hard.  Hitting the falls at the wrong angle can risk serious injury.

'There were definitely some nerves there but you just have to remember you're there to document it and hope for the best.'

Jesse didn't escape completely unscathed he suffered a fractured shoulder socket and a collapsed lung.

But just one week after Jesse's successful attempt in April this year, kayak world record holder, Tyler Bradt suffered a broken back after attempting the same waterfall.

There were fears that Bradt, who holds the record for kayaking down the highest waterfall at  55m, would never walk again but he is now making a full recovery.

Jesse said: 'This waterfall comes with heavy consequences so not many people have attempted it.  Three world class kayakers have attempted Abiqua Falls and all three of us have been injured to some degree.

'It's not the tallest waterfall but it's definitely considered one of the most dangerous.

'To fall 30m takes around three seconds, so there is not much room for error.

'But knowing I'd nailed it gave me a huge feeling of elation.'