How to survive a tsunami: a man, an orange ball and a Niagara Falls plunge

Steve Stone would.

The Wodonga man will be a lab rat for a tsunami survival capsule designed by a friend Julian Sharpe, an engineer and Boeing aircraft designer living in the US.

Mr Sharpe’s capsule design was prompted by the devastation of the Japanese tsunami, which claimed the lives of more than 15,000 people.

Understanding that the more common cause of death in tsunami is being crushed, rather than drowning, Mr Sharpe aimed to create something which would minimise the risk of being killed by debris.

His spherical, brightly coloured design looks much like an orange from the outside, but will be strong enough to withstand the force of a car, floating timber or even being dropped over a waterfall.

It is expected to be tested by NASA before four people, including Mr Stone and Mr Sharpe, friends from high school in their homeland of Wales, will take the plunge together.

Mr Stone said the capsule, to be available for about $1000, would give people a chance to survive.

“Six months ago (in Japan) they had no chance, they either tried to outrun it or stood their ground, but you can see by the number of people who died that they failed at both,” he said.

The idea to test it on themselves came about when Mr Stone and Mr Sharpe were discussing what they would do for their 50th birthdays.

They will now be celebrated by plunging over Niagara Falls in six to eight months.

“I honestly thought the conversation was as far as it would go, but no, it’s really happening now,” Mr Stone said.

“I don’t think we’re going to get insurance, though,” Mr Stone said.

Mr Stone said he isn’t scared about doing the drop, which engineers expect will feel like being rear ended by a car at just over 30km/h.

But cameras inside the capsule will be able to capture the moment to tell how he really feels.

So, what if Mr Sharpe’s calculations are incorrect?

“Well, you’re a long time dead, so I’ve got to go for it,” Mr Stone said.