A "death diving" daredevil who suffered horrific injuries after jumping off a 42-metre high cliff says he's "healing insanely well".

Vali Graham, 21, was left with a shattered spine after attempting the world record dive back in July. He was back jumping off cliffs just three months later, but admits he was "reckless" before and is now taking a more responsible approach to his extreme sport hobby.

He's also opened up about his recovery and the impact the ordeal has had on his mind as well as his body, revealing the three biggest things he's learned in the months since he cheated death by a matter of inches.

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Vali, from Newcastle in Australia, was a self-proclaimed “death diving” enthusiast and attempted a world record dive off the top of Minnehana Falls in the Blue Mountains, a rugged region west of Sydney in New South Wales.

In a chilling video shared on social media, he can be seen freefalling from the top of the waterfall before smashing into the water in a “pike” position. Vali suffered a fractured skull, back, concussion and a burst ear drum, Perth Now reported.

Somehow, he was able to pull himself out of water and walk back to his friends after regaining consciousness. He was rushed to hospital and underwent emergency surgery on his back and sternum, but incredibly, was up walking just two days later.

Vali recently shared an update on Instagram, saying he’s “been healing insanely well” and that his body “is feeling really good 90% of the time”. He also shared three things he’s learned since the death dive.

The first thing, he said, was: “Life is a gift. It’s not worth wasting it to prove anything."

Next, he added: We cliff jump for the feeling of pure joy. Take time to progress. It's about the journey, not the destination."

Finally, he said: “Understanding myself. The hardest bit was coming to terms with the fact I was being reckless, and jumping without respect for my body.”

Social media users were inspired by his recovery progress, with one posting: “Watching you go from an inspiring, superhuman to a human that wants to inspire is so beautiful and I’m so happy I’ve been next to you for the journey.”

Another said: “Everyone needs a humbling moment in their career. Glad you’re back with a new mindset and it wasn’t as bad as it could have been!”

Death diving, which originated in Norway, is an extreme sport where divers leap from great heights and hold a specific pose for as long as possible before tucking into a cannonball at the last second to enter the water.

The current world record is held by 22-year-old Frenchman Come Girardot, who leapt from a staggering 44.3 metres off a waterfall in central Spain. The dive itself last just three seconds and he dropped feet first at a breakneck speed of around 65mph.

Come told MailOnline the months leading up to the dive had been “really intense” and that he had to train every day to prepare his body for the impact. He said: “Once you count to three, there is no going back and you just have to jump. Also, the wind was really challenging because it was very windy that day and there was a big gust.”