Auckland man to attempt 766 bungy jumps in 24 hours

Auckland man Mike Heard is attempting to do 766 bungy jumps over the next 24 hours, all in the name of mental health.

It would break the current world record of 765, set by Francois-Marie Dibon in Pitlochry, Perthshire.

Heard has held the record before – and he wants it back. He still holds the record for most bungy jumps in one hour.

“New Zealand is the birthplace of bungy jumping, it feels very wrong to me to have a French man from a Scottish bungy jumping site to have that current record,” he told Breakfast this morning from the Auckland Harbour Bridge bungy.

“I’m very driven and the Mental Health Foundation are behind me as well.

“We’ve got a problem in this country and I want to help expose that and get Kiwis talking, I want my kids to grow up with a positive state of mental health, and it’s a great platform and opportunity to do that.”

Heard said he was doing it for himself as well: “It’s important to do things for yourself.

“This record is for me because I’ve got to work on my mental health and I love bungy jumping.”

He said “the mental game” is key, as well as the physical element.

“I’ve been going to the gym, I’ve been working out, I’ve been trying to stay healthy and fit and eating well and not drinking.

“But, it really is a mind game,” he said. “For me, it’s standing on the top, feeling like rubbish at two o’clock in the morning when none of my family and friends are here, and having to fall off the edge again.

“We’re aiming for about 40 to 50 jumps an hour, that should get us the record with some time to spare.

“But who knows what’s gonna happen?”