Thrill-seekers' 'Zorbing' stunt on Russian slope goes horribly wrong

An extreme sport thrill ride became someone's death trap after a Russian man and his friend went rolling down the side of a ski slope in a large inflatable ball and couldn't stop.

A video captured the final moments of the two men inside the giant polyurethane ball — known as Zorbing or globe-riding —as it hurtled down the slope at the Dombai ski resort, went off course and hit some rocks while rolling off the side of the mountain.

27-year-old Denis Burakov, a married father of two, was killed and his friend Vladimir Shcherbov was seriously injured after they were tossed from the out-of-control orb.



Burakov died on the way to the hospital after breaking his neck and spine while his companion was treated for cuts and bruises later released.

The operators of the sport which originated in New Zealand charge 300 rubles, or almost $10, for the chance to roll down the dangerous looking slope.  It is is done on grassy hills in warm weather areas.

Burakov's ride started innocently enough with a friend saying on the video,"Denis, you'll be like Jackie Chan in the "Armour of God" movie," according to a translator.

The ball rolled down its intended path but, after someone at the bottom tried to stop the orb, it goes off course, speeds up and hits a trail of large, jagged rocks before landing on a frozen lake.

Officials are looking into why there were no fences or walls set up at the bottom of the attraction to stop the runaway ball.

Russia plans on using the Zorb as a symbol of the Winter Olympics in Sochi next year.