Ten Tragedies Caught On Film (1/10)
 

British Pathe captured many extraordinary events on film over its 80 year history but sometimes the cameras were switched on when tragedy struck. From Franz Reichelt's death jump off the Eiffel Tower to the Hindenburg Disaster, here are 10 tragedies caught on film.

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  • I've left some further information about the 10th photo here. Either hit the "Watch film" link, or got to clip 3084.21 to see it.

    jamied 13th Jan 2013
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  • I find this very sad. In a way it morrors the way the managers where I work expect me to do things they are not prepared to do. Obviously, a man's life was not held in very high esteem in those days.

    RCbeastly 8th Mar 2013
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  • Daft commentary, she was just a low tech suicide bomber, it was only by luck that no-one else was killed. And World War 1 was the main cause of women getting the vote, not her "brave act"

    GaryJ46 11th Apr 2013
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  • The image you have here is not a DH110 but a Gloster Javelin which does appear in the following film footage but is not the aircraft that crashed.

    bigdavebull 17th Apr 2013
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Death Jump – Eiffel Tower
In February 1912, the inventor Franz Reichelt had gained permission to test his self designed parachute from the Eiffel Tower. The press and Pathé cameras were all invited to witness his jump. The first time Reichelt went up the tower, he actually turned back after getting scared. However, after some persuasion from his manager, he climbed the tower again. The film shows Reichelt teetering on the edge and after hesitating for awhile, he jumps off but plummets straight down to his death.

Film: Death jump