Hollywood stuntman slacklines from Italian mainland to Sicily — but falls just short of Guinness World Record
An Estonia thrill-seeker has become the first person to walk from the Italian mainland to Sicily — by slacklining nearly two miles high above the Strait of Messina.
Jaan Roose, 32, made the walk in 176 minutes — just under three hours — where he battled high winds and blazing hot temperatures Wednesday, all while balancing on a slackline less than an inch wide.
The slackline, which hangs looser than a tightrope, was strung between a pair of transmission towers on Sicily and the mainland.
At its lowest point the line was about 330 feet over the water, while at its highest it was more than 800 feet.
“I am super happy … even though I am a bit tired,” Roose, a slacklining world champion and Hollywood stuntman, said after making the crossing.
Roose set out around 8:30 a.m., carrying nothing but a backpack with water and rations, and a radio in case of emergency, according to the Telegraph.
His journey was not without high-drama — about four minutes from completing the trek Roose lost his balance and toppled from the line at about 820 feet.
People could be heard screaming in terror as he plummeted — but he was saved by a safety belt fastened to the slackline.
He clambered quickly back up onto the line and continued on to the end.
The fall meant Roose did not break the Guinness World Record for slacklining distance — currently 1.7 miles — but he still made history as the first person to cross the enormous stretch of water.
“I had some problems, but there was a lot of wind. I am really happy to have made history and to have become the first man to walk across the Strait,” Roose said.
Roose is a three-time slacklining world champion, and has performed stunts in films like Assassin’s Creed and Wonder Woman 1984, according to Euro News.
He trained for the Messina Strait crossing for over six months, and personally partook in the operation to string the line between the towers using a helicopter.
“The strait possesses historical and cultural significance going back for thousands of years, as well as incredible natural beauty,” Jaan Roose said, referring to the strait’s appearance in countless ancient texts, including even Homer’s Odyssey.
“Combine that with variable weather conditions and strong marine currents, and it offered a unique and meaningful opportunity to push the limits of slacklining,” he said.
