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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Tim Hanlon

Wife 'crushed to death in front of husband' in horror free-fly fall caught on camera

A mum fell 100ft to her death when doing a free-fly jump that went tragically wrong and she died with her husband watching on.

Instructor Alexander Muznikas has been jailed for four years as a result of the death of Yevgenia Leontyeva, 33, who was taking part in the "free-flying" extreme sport in Kazakhstan.

Her husband, Alexander Tkachenko suffered the horror of seeing his wife killed in front of him, a court in Kazakhstan heard.

He said: "My wife was crushed before my eyes."

The mum let her female friend go first, and that "rope free-flying" leap was successful, the court in Karaganda was told.

Witnesses said Ms Leontyeva had appeared "afraid" - but they heard the instructor urging her to jump.

Ms Leontyeva was nervous before doing the jump (Yevgenia Leontyeva/east2west news)

She is then seen on a harrowing video leaping from the rooftop moments after husband Alexander Tkachenko told her: "I love you".

Ms Leontyeva crashed into an iron fence on the ground after a supporting rope was not properly secured to a tree, according to reports.

There were screams from onlookers on the roof and watchers below were seen rushing to her assistance after the appalling fall.

A cross-line to which her rope was attached - and which was supposed to break her fall leaving her suspended above the ground - failed to hold.

Instructor Alexander Muznikas urged Ms Leontyeva to jump (e-karaganda.kz/east2west news)
Instructor Alexander Muznikas (pictured) has been jailed over Ms Leontyeva's death (social media / East2west News)

According to local reports, a man was seen falling to the ground as she crashes towards the earth. He is believed to have been holding the safety line which should have been attached to the tree and he was floored by the force of her fall pulling on the unsecured rope.

The bereaved husband said: "I came to support my wife. My wife was crushed before my eyes - I was in shock and panic. It was clearly the employee's fault.

"They did not coordinate their actions. The instructor didn't look down to make sure the rope was tied. I don't wish this on anyone, and he must serve time in jail. This, of course, will not return my spouse and mother of my children...."

Ms Leontyeva suffered a serious skull fracture, brain injuries, and multiple right-sided fractures. She was rushed to hospital but later died from the injuries.

Ms Leontyeva had two children and also cared for another child (Yevgenia Leontyeva/east2west news)

A friend of the victim, Anton Shevelev, told the court he had demanded the instructor take off the harness because Ms Leontyeva was "afraid to jump" and they would "go home".

But Muznikas persuaded her to do the jump, he said.

Ms Leontyeva had three boys under 14, two of her own, and the son of a relative who had died.

Muznikas was convicted of offering services which did not meet safety rules and causing death by negligence. He was sentenced to four years in jail.

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