Kayaker tames monster waterfall

Kayakers can be a crazed bunch, the very best constantly pushing the envelope in the most treacherous conditions.

Now, Spanish rafter Aniol Serrasolses has given new meaning to death-defying stunts after conquering what has long been considered one of the sport's greatest challenges.

Serrasolses recently became the first person to take the 35m plunge off Canada's iconic Keyhole Falls.

And footage of the drop, amidst 3000-cubic-metres-per-second of water that plunges into a river just one metre deep, defies belief.

Just reaching the waterfall, situated on the Lillooet River, in British Columbia, is a mission in itself.

Impossible to paddle into because of the impassable river above, Serrasolses had to hike and then abseil down a 100m crevasse to access the site.

Working with a support team, he was also hampered by communications problems which meant his crew could not contact him with their walkie-talkies when a reconnaissance of his landing spot revealed the water was dangerously shallow.

The team wanted to call off the stunt, fearing it was suicidal.

But nonetheless Serrasolses took it on and survived the drop with the dramatic video - filmed from above the waterfall, below and from an onboard camera - providing a jaw-dropping chronicle of the epic moment.

As he plunged over the falls, the Spainiard momentarily disappeared in the maelstrom of water, with only his paddle visible.

He was then swallowed up when he hit the bottom, before triumphantly popping to the surface.

Speaking after the stunt, Serrasolses said his drive was simple.

"My motivation is to get into places that no one has been before," he said.

And rather than feeling any sense of fear during the drop, he added: "I've never been happier under a waterfall."

Forget theSolo Man, Red Bull man Serrasolses is the new king.