High-wire artist Nik Wallenda has just completed a daring double-challenge by walking up a steeply-inclined tightrope some 190 metres across the Chicago river, suspended 150 metres above the ground.
The footage, aired on the Discovery Channel, ran on a 10-second delay so producers could cut away if he fell to his death. He had neither a net nor a harness while he completed the feat - his only back-up plan if things went wrong was to attempt to kneel and cling to the wire with his feet.
He finished the first portion of the stunt in six minutes, 52 seconds. The second part of the challenge was a blindfolded high-wire walk between the west and east Marina City Towers to come. He has always said that will be the biggest challenge.
The first wire was suspended above the Chicago River at a 19-degree incline. The wire was supposed to be suspended at 15 degrees, but a last minute change made for an even steeper challenge. On the blindfolded portion, Wallenda will shuffle his feet rather than lifting them. A pinging sound at his destination will help guide him.
The Windy City is earning its name this evening, with speeds capable of exceeding 30mph during the attempt, and temperatures could dip as lower than 40 degrees. The unpredictable gusts swirling around Chicago's skyscrapers mean gusts could approach from any direction.
