Conversations

When my parachute failed: How I survived a fall from 15,000 feet

30 Sep 2025

Audio

Description

When Brad Guy went skydiving in his early 20s, his whole family was there to watch. But when Brad jumped out of the plane strapped to his instructor, the parachute, and the backup chute both failed to open. The pair plunged to the ground at 80km an hour, and miraculously both survived. The fall was terrifying, but recovery is what scared Brad the most.Despite hitting the ground at around 80kmph, they both survived, but from the first night in hospital Brad started experiencing debilitating night terrors. Then back at home with his parents for the first four months, Brad sunk into a deep depression and was barely able to leave his room. It was the start of physical and emotional recovery that took years and changed Brad and his family forever.This episode of Conversations was produced by Jen Leake. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.It explores physical injury, skydiving, fear, family, PTSD, nightmare disorder, shame, guilt, trauma, mental breakdown, sexuality, psychology, medication, family history, generational trauma.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Transcription

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet

Help us prioritize this episode for transcription by upvoting it.

0 upvotes

🗳️ Sign in to Upvote

Popular episodes get transcribed faster

Other episodes from Conversations

Transcribed and ready to explore now

What leaving my family’s Baha’i faith taught me about love and life

27 Jan 2026

Conversations

Remembering Midnight Oil's Rob Hirst

26 Jan 2026

Conversations

Encore: Melissa Lucashenko and the story of Edenglassie

23 Jan 2026

Conversations

From drug smuggling and opium dens to marching in the first-ever Mardi Gras—Kate's coming out

22 Jan 2026

Conversations

Conversations

When my parachute failed: How I survived a fall from 15,000 feet

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet

Other episodes from Conversations

What leaving my family’s Baha’i faith taught me about love and life

Remembering Midnight Oil's Rob Hirst

Encore: Melissa Lucashenko and the story of Edenglassie

From drug smuggling and opium dens to marching in the first-ever Mardi Gras—Kate's coming out

I was a teenage Navy diver in the Iraq War. Then I had to make a new life for myself

The secret life of a hostage negotiator

Sign in to Audioscrape

Share this moment