Down to Earth

Daphne Schmon
2015-04-05

0
51 min

Ernesto Gainza stands 4,000 meters above the ground in Dubai, preparing to set a Guinness world record skydiving with the smallest and fastest parachute in history. Experts say he is likely to die, but he jumps. Born in Valencia, Venezuela, Ernesto's father died days before he was born, leaving his mother to care for him and his sister singlehandedly in humble circumstances. After a difficult divorce, Ernesto gave up everything to move to Europe and took a skydiving course. His life changed forever and a career in parachute stunts quickly developed in a dream of setting a world record by April 5, 2014.