No charges over bungee death

Police took the equipment used in the jump away for examination

The organisers of a bungee jump in which a 22-year-old student died will not face criminal charges, police have revealed.

Christopher Thomas from Carmarthenshire, suffered head and spinal injuries after hitting the ground during the jump at a charity event outside a Swansea pub in August 2002.

A joint inquiry into the death was undertaken by South Wales Police, Swansea Council and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Mr Thomas was raising funds for the neurosurgery unit at the city's Morriston Hospital, where he later died.

During the investigation, police studied video footage of the jump, which was filmed by the family of Mr Thomas, and questioned more than 30 witnesses.

At the time, officers said that around nine or 10 people had already used the bungee jump before Mr Thomas.

An expert witness was also called in to prepare a report into the suitability of safety equipment used during the jump.

The crane used in the jump in which Mr Thomas died

Mr Thomas had been a late addition to the list of people doing bungee jumps from the 180-foot crane and witnesses said he initially appeared nervous.

On the first bounce, everything was running as normal, but as Mr Thomas approached the ground for the second time the cable attached to his legs appeared to snap.

He plummeted 60 feet to the ground as family and friends looked on.

The equipment used by the company which organised the event, Freefall Bungee Wales, was taken away for examination by the police.

The company had previously had a good safety record.

In a statement, South Wales Police said it had been decided that "no criminal charges will be brought against the organisers of the bungee jump from which Christopher Thomas sustained fatal injuries in August 2002.

"A report in relation to the circumstances surrounding his death will be submitted to the coroner."