Man completes high wire walk - on stilts

A Chinese man has earned himself a place in the record books - by walking on stilts on a high wire more than 70ft above the ground.

Samati Yiming, 33, a physics teacher, didn't even use a safety rope during the stunt at Shoufu Water Park, in Wulumuqi, Xinjiang.

He wore specially made 2ft aluminium stilts, steadying himself for several seconds before every step along the 20 metre walk.

Just five steps in, he almost lost his balance and seemed close to falling - prompting screams from the watching spectators below.

But he recovered his composure to such an extent that he was able to pause halfway across the wire to dance in time to drums beating down below.

Samati started to walk on stilts when he was 18 years old and he now he holds three records.

In 2003, he walked nearly 50 miles on stilts, from Shanshan County to Turufan. The following year he walked for eight days on stilts, covering 180 miles. And in 2005, he walked for 49 steps on stilts an amazing 52ft high.

Samati said he had the idea of combining high wire and stilts a year ago, and had been training for it ever since.

Rena Yusupu, of the Xinjiang Acrobatics Association, said he believed it was the first time anyone had ever walked on a high wire on stilts.

orange.co.uk