American Luke Aikins has become the first person to jump from 25,000 ft without a parachute, landing safely in a net.
Mr Aikins - who has more than 18,000 jumps under his belt - fell dead centre into the 100x100ft net in Simi Valley, southern California.
Skydiver Luke Aikins lands safely after jumping 25,000 feet from an airplane without a parachute or wing suit. Photo: AFP
During the two-minute fall aired live on Fox television, the 42-year-old reached the speed of 193km/h.
To loud cheers, he climbed out of the net and hugged his wife and young son.
"I'm almost levitating, it's incredible," he said after Saturday's jump.
"This thing just happened! I can't even get the words out of my mouth," he said, admitting that he was nervous beforehand.
Skydiver Luke Aikins (right) celebrates after landing safely. Photo: AFP
Luke Aikins trained for about two years for the jump.
He also admitted that he had nearly had to cancel the jump because he was ordered to wear a parachute for safety and this would have made his landing more dangerous because of the extra weight.
However, the organisers had lifted the ban just minutes before the jump.
"Aikins' leap represents the culmination of a 26-year career that will set a personal and world record for the highest jump without a parachute or wing suit," his spokesman Justin Aclin said.
Mr Aikins, who is a safety and training adviser for the US Parachute Association, said his friend came up with the idea two years ago.
-BBC
