Nik crosses the Grand Canyon. Picture: Discovery Channel Source: news.com.au
NO net, no harness. Daredevil Nik Wallenda has just become the first man to walk across the Grand Canyon on a tightrope.
As his family watched on, the record-breaker walked 450m above the canyon rigged up with multiple cameras and microphones - without a harness. It what may seem like a strange move, he wore blue jeans to complete the stunt. His shoes were hand-made by his mother.
The craziest stunts ever.
The Discovery Channel broadcast the stunt with a 10-second delay this morning. Wallenda, a seventh generation member of the Flying Wallendas circus family, admitted a mishap would doubtless boost ratings.
Watch the amazing Grand Canyon walk.
Wallenda trained for the worst, and said that - unlike his great-grandfather Karl who grabbed vainly for the wire before falling to his death in 1978 aged 73 - he would be able to hold on if necessary.
"It's not like I just grab with my hands like people visualise. I wrap my legs round it, my hands round it, I hug that wire like a bear hug until help comes. I've got rescue teams that would be with me within a minute," he said.
Buffeted by strong winds he went down onto the wire twice in a stunt that took just 22 minutes to complete. Nearing the end he blew a kiss into the air, then started running towards his family and supporters.
"I wanna die in a bed next to my wife, at an old age over 100 years old. That's my dream," Wallenda told AFP. "I don't want to die performing."
Today, he lives another day.
LIVE BLOG: How it happened.
12pm: He's on his knees blowing a kiss. HE'S RUNNING. And he's done it!
11.57am: Nik's started thanking everyone he can think of. His dad has told him to pay attention.
11.55am: Still walking slowly Nik is ALMOST there. He's still praying.
11.51am: His sitting down. Whispering. Now he's UP. He's been on nearly 14 minutes now.
11.49am Nik is at the halfway point.
11.43am: Placing one foot slowly in front of the other Nik is being buffeted by winds. He's praying repeatedly saying "Praise you Jesus. Winds are way worse than I expected".
11.42am: No matter how comfy they are we can't understand WHY he is wearing jeans.
11.40am: He's gone down onto his knees. "I'm not liking it. Thank you Jesus." He's back up. And he's praying.
11.37am: Nik's first thoughts: "I'm excited I want to get going."
AND HE'S OFF. "That's a precarious spot. Oh my god. My shoes feel slippery. There is dust in this canyon. Praise god this is awesome."
11.30am: The shoes made with love by his mum are going on.
11.27am: FINALLY. Nik is in the helicopter on his way to the starting line. His wife is crying. "I pray that whoever watches this will be proud of him and never give up on a dream. This is everything, this is all he has been dreaming of since he was a little boy." He first stepped onto a wire at the age of 2.
11.22am: Nik is saying a quiet prayer with his family. The preacher is asking God to calm the winds.
11.02am: Nik will cross the canyon at a spot called Hell Hole Bend.
11am: Nik's still sitting in his trailer in his jeans and T-shirt. He's playing with his nephew.
10.59am Nik told Discovery Channel: "If I were to fall, I am dying, I am dead".
10.52am: In the last ten minutes 77.25km/h wind gusts have been recorded on the wire. Nik won't be able to wipe the dust off his eyes as he is walking.
10.46am: The engineer says he is very happy with the tension on the wire now. He says once Nik gets on the wire he will be happy because "it's all up to the kid". "He's ready."
10.34am: Nik says "I'm excited this is a dream come true." Nik has three children and a wife. He says he has decided to risk his life today because he is "carrying on a legacy".
10.30am: The sun is beginning to set over the Grand Canyon.
10.26am: Nik is saying a last prayer. Let's hope it really isn't his last prayer.
10.25am: Nik's dad Terry says: "I am proud of my son I am confident in his abilities, he's not foolish".
10.24am. Nik's mother makes all his tightrope walking shoes by hand. She says they are made "with love". Awwww.
10.23am: Engineers held a meeting with Nik last night concerned that the wire was losing tension.
10:20am: SEVEN members of Nik's family have died tightrope walking.
10.19am: It's currently 30 degrees with winds gusting at 56km/h
10.14am: Nik says his big concern is wind conditions and extreme heat in the desert.
10.13am: Here's what happened last time Nik walked a tightrope. He was the first person to walk a tightrope over Niagara Falls. That time he had safety equipment. This time he won't.
10.10am: At the moment, Nik is wearing a blue T-shirt and jeans. Yes, JEANS.
10.04am: Nik Wallenda is checking out the Grand Canyon, standing with his toes right on the edge.
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