On 20 September 2026, two young American men jumped from a cliff into the river at Goðafoss, a well-known waterfall in northern Iceland. The stunt, which posed significant safety risks because of the river’s strong currents and cold water, was first reported by Vísir, and a video shared widely on Instagram showed the leap. Police were called after the footage emerged.
Footage shows one of the men standing on the edge near the waterfall and then jumping about 40 feet (just over 12 metres) into the water below. The second follows closely behind, also throwing himself into the cold currents of the Skjálfandafljót river.
According to RÚV, local police were called in connection with the stunt after the video attracted widespread attention online. The river at Goðafoss is known for its strong currents and low water temperatures, raising significant safety concerns for jumpers.
Why it matters
Goðafoss is located along Iceland’s main ring road at the junction with the Sprengisandur highland road, about 45 minutes from Akureyri. The waterfall is a popular visitor destination, with its water dropping 12 metres over a width of 30 metres. A hiking trail loops around the scenic area.
Sources
- Vísir (first reported) in Icelandic
- RÚV in Icelandic
Image: Chensiyuan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · licence, original (resized) Illustrative image.
