Minister makes Zambezi bunjy challenge

Erin Langworthy miraculously survived a fall into the Zambezi River after her bungee cord snapped. Photo / AP

On New Year's Eve, Australian tourist Erin Langworthy fell nearly 120 metres into the Zambezi River after her bungee cord snapped.

Her story, and the viral video that accompanied it, became the talk of the internet after she miraculously survived, with only a broken collarbone for her trouble.

Sensing that his country could use an image boost, Zambia's tourism minister Given Lubinda jumped off the bridge himself on Sunday, and then offered to accompany Langworthy on her next jump, BBC reported.

Lubinda said: "I am hoping that all those who watched a middle-aged person jumping down the bridge and coming back up smiling will be encouraged not just to jump but also to come and visit Zambia."

Lubinda has become known in his country as a thrill-seeker.

Lubinda is entirely confident in the safety of bungee jumping over the Zambezi, reported the Times of Zambia.

"I came here to prove that the bungee jumping activities are safe," he said. "That accident was one in 50,000 jumps in a year."

- AAP