The zorb, essentially a giant, inflatable human hamster ball, is supposed to be a joyous, transparent in Sochi, Russia. But it seems it can also be an extremely dangerous resort ride. Denis Burakov, 27, he was riding in with his friend, Vladimir Scherbov, took a plunge off a cliff at a ski area in the southern Russian state of Abkhazia. The zorb was supposed to come to a gentle stop at the bottom of the slope when it suddenly veered away from its handler and careened into a ravine. Burakov sustained a broken neck and . Scherbov received a concussion and multiple lacerations but is expected to survive.
In a video of the incident, taken by a friend, one of the handlers can be seen desperately chasing the zorb before it gets away and disappears behind a hill.
An investigation is being launched into possible criminal negligence on the part of the resort operators.