The man who survived a 22,000 foot fall

Alan Eugene Magee was an American airman during World War II who survived a 22,000 foot fall from his damaged B-17 Flying Fortress. On 3 January 1943 Magee's B-17 was on a daylight bombing run over Saint-Nazaire when German fighters shot off a section of the right wing causing the aircraft to enter a deadly spin.

Magee found that his parachute had been damaged and rendered useless by the attack. Having no choice, Magee leapt from the plane without a parachute and fell over four miles before crashing through the glass roof of the St. Nazaire railroad station. Somehow the glass roof cushioned Magee's impact and rescuers found him still alive on the floor of the station.

Alan Magee died in San Angelo, Texas on 20 December 2003 from stroke and kidney failure at the age of 84. This video is a short movie filmed by Rodney Ascher, based on the real story of Alan Magee (More info at Wikipedia).

Via: Futuratronics