In December last year,
adventurer and extreme documentary filmmaker, Sam Cossman, stood on the rim of
a volcano locals call ‘the entrance to hell’. With his toes dangling over the
edge he cheered and laughed as 2,000 degree molten lava spat at his gas mask
and melted his crew’s camera equipment. Cossman stepped in to the mouth of the
Marum Crater — given to spontaneous eruptions and acid rain storms — to capture
some incredible footage.
During
his volcano walk on Ambrym Island — part of the Vanuatu archipelago, east of
Australia — his team used drones to create 3D renderings of the crater, which
researchers will use to measure the circumference of the lava lake and predict
eruptions.
For people
like Cossman who have dangerous day jobs, it’s more than just the adrenaline
rush that keeps them in business — it’s the feeling of completing something
important, despite the high odds of getting hurt and the close calls.
Cossman’s
risky exploits started in early childhood when he and his twin sister started
building rafts during floods at home in Georgia in the US. The pair used them
to sail down the river that had formed in their backyard.
These
days, instead of navigating floods he dreams up adventures like base-jumping
365 metres into the Cave of Swallows, an open-air pit in the middle of the
jungle in Mexico. He wants to turn the cave into a living laboratory, studying
its topography and the species that dwell within it. To pay for such expeditions,
Cossman secures corporate sponsorship, particularly from technology brands.
“I’m
not an adrenaline junkie because I don’t like getting close to death just for
the heck of it,” Cossman said. “It’s about sharing it with other people hoping
these places inspire them to pursue their passions and express creativity.”
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