Featured Image Credit: Ray Massey/Getty Images/Jacob Cockle
A YouTuber who was known for his thrill seeking videos unknowingly captured his final moments on camera.
Jacob Cockle filmed himself swimming before being sucked into a deadly whirlpool.
The 28-year-old was known for often dicing with death, performing hair-raising stunts and regularly swimming near whirlpools.
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But things took a turn when he ventured to Carnsew Pool in Hayle, Cornwall.
The water, which is part of a nature reserve, is signposted to warn people not to swim due to its whirlpools.
However, Jacob was filmed in the water on May 28, 2013 where he could be seen deliberately getting close to the whirlpool.
At the time he was also wearing a plastic horse’s head as a comedy prop.
In the video, Jacob is being moved in a circle by the current and at one point, he almost slips into the vortex.
Turning to his friend, David Raine, who was behind the camera, Jacob is heard saying: “Woah. That was pretty scary.”
However, Jacob decided to remain in the water and dived down to get some shots underwater using his GoPro.
When he didn’t resurface, David started to panic and found Jacob face down at the other end of the pool.
He was airlifted to hospital but was later pronounced dead, with tests confirming that he had drowned.
Jacob’s death was ruled as accidental and the coroner, Andrew Cox, said: “Jacob went down to the harbor with an expressed intention of recording the whirlpools there.
“I have seen the footage of him being sucked around the whirlpool while wearing the horse's head. There is no doubt that Jacob was a competent waterman.
“There is also no doubt that he was a risk taker. I accept however that those risks were not spontaneous or impulsive but were considered.
“He was an admirable young man who died doing what he loved.”
Jacob had previously nearly died in December 2008 after becoming trapped between a stone pier and a 30ft wave while he was surfing near Penzance, Cornwall.
At the inquest, his mother, Carolyn Sheard, said: “He was severely dyslexic. He had no concept of time but always did what he wanted to do. He never had any fear of danger.”
After the inquest, Mrs Sheard made a statement, adding: “In his short lifetime Jacob lived life to its fullest. He achieved more than most people can only dream about.
“He saw no danger in either people or situations. Jacob was a free spirit.”
