David Antony Christopher Potter, known as David Kirke, (26 September 1945 – 21 October 2023) was a British sportsperson.

Early life and education

Born on September 26, 1945, in Shawbury, Shropshire, Kirke was the eldest of seven children of Arnold Potter, a schoolmaster, and Fraye (Kirke) Potter, a concert pianist.[1] He adopted his mother's maiden name as his surname during his time at the University of Oxford.[1] He studied psychology and philosophy at Corpus Christi College, Oxford.[1] Following university, he worked in publishing and edited a poetry journal.[1]

Career

Kirke's notable contribution to extreme sports was initiating what is considered the first modern bungee jump in 1979, off the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, England.[1][2][3] This event drew inspiration from the land diving ritual of Vanuatu and involved an elastic rope used in military applications.[1][4]

In the late 1970s, Kirke co-founded the Dangerous Sports Club at Oxford.[1] The club became known for its involvement in high-risk activities.[1] The idea for the Dangerous Sports Club reportedly emerged during a trip to the Swiss Alps with Chris Baker, a British department-store heir, where they discussed the concept of exploring new extreme sports.[1] His activities with the Dangerous Sports Club often combined elements of extreme sports and performance art. These included unconventional stunts such as skiing with a carousel horse in the Swiss Alps, flying an inflatable kangaroo suspended by balloons over the English Channel, skateboarding in Pamplona's running of the bulls, and organizing a meal on the rim of an active volcano in Saint Vincent.[1]

Personal life

Kirke's personal life experienced a significant shift after the death of his girlfriend in a bus accident, leading him to leave his job and return to Oxford.[1] This change marked his entry into a lifestyle characterized by adventurous and often perilous endeavors.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Williams, Alex (November 3, 2023). "David Kirke, Who Made the First Modern Bungee Jump, Dies at 78". New York Times.
  2. ↑ Rosenwald, Michael S. (2 November 2023). "David Kirke, first bungee jumper and extreme sports patriarch, dies at 78". The Washington Post. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  3. ↑ "World's first ever bungee jumper David Kirke dies". BBC News. October 25, 2023.
  4. ↑ "David Kirke believed safe sport repressed people's imaginations". The Economist.
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