Human
Skydiver Jumps From 25,000 Feet In The Air Without Parachute
Brooke James
First Posted: Aug 01, 2016 04:30 AM EDT
When faced with dangerous stunts, people are always advised to make safety a priority. However, a US skydiver went out of his way to trash said precautions as he jumped off the plane 25,000 feet in the air - with no parachute on his back.
The diver, Luke Aikins, fell above the desert landscape of Simi Valley in California, landing squarely in a 100 x 100-foot, two-tiered net that is set to catch him. He nailed the landing though, at 120mph - a somewhat terminal velocity, as noted by CNN.
Aikins was a self-described "member of the Red Bull Air Force, professional skydiver, BASE jumper, stuntman, pilot ... (and) aviation expert." Before he landind on the safety net that broke his fall, he did a last-second roll onto his back to land in the right position to avoid accident, or worse, death. Upon landing, he was said to have remained motionless for awhile, but was able to stand to embrace his wife as he regained his composure and dusted himself off.
The stunt, billed as "Heaven Sent" was broadcast live on Fox, and according to Telegraph UK, was watched by members of his family as a crowd of well-wishers watched from an improvised spectator stand in the desert.
The stunt had 18 months of preparation, and the Screen Actors Guild, who was looking after the project, initially insisted that Aikins wear a parachute as a precaution. After negotiations, however, the requirement was lifted. Aikins also said that having a parachute would have made the stunt all the more dangerous because of the need to adjust his position as he approached the net.
According to Independent UK, Aikins was accompanied by three other skydivers who had parachutes - one collected the oxygen mask he discarded, another had a smoke canister to make them visible to those on the ground, while a third jumper was filming. Speaking about the experience, Aikins shared, "I am almost levitating. It is incredible what has happened. It is awesome."
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First Posted: Aug 01, 2016 04:30 AM EDT
When faced with dangerous stunts, people are always advised to make safety a priority. However, a US skydiver went out of his way to trash said precautions as he jumped off the plane 25,000 feet in the air - with no parachute on his back.
The diver, Luke Aikins, fell above the desert landscape of Simi Valley in California, landing squarely in a 100 x 100-foot, two-tiered net that is set to catch him. He nailed the landing though, at 120mph - a somewhat terminal velocity, as noted by CNN.
Aikins was a self-described "member of the Red Bull Air Force, professional skydiver, BASE jumper, stuntman, pilot ... (and) aviation expert." Before he landind on the safety net that broke his fall, he did a last-second roll onto his back to land in the right position to avoid accident, or worse, death. Upon landing, he was said to have remained motionless for awhile, but was able to stand to embrace his wife as he regained his composure and dusted himself off.
The stunt, billed as "Heaven Sent" was broadcast live on Fox, and according to Telegraph UK, was watched by members of his family as a crowd of well-wishers watched from an improvised spectator stand in the desert.
The stunt had 18 months of preparation, and the Screen Actors Guild, who was looking after the project, initially insisted that Aikins wear a parachute as a precaution. After negotiations, however, the requirement was lifted. Aikins also said that having a parachute would have made the stunt all the more dangerous because of the need to adjust his position as he approached the net.
According to Independent UK, Aikins was accompanied by three other skydivers who had parachutes - one collected the oxygen mask he discarded, another had a smoke canister to make them visible to those on the ground, while a third jumper was filming. Speaking about the experience, Aikins shared, "I am almost levitating. It is incredible what has happened. It is awesome."
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone