Daredevil defies death in record Swiss Alps rope walk

An extreme high-wire artist appeared no larger than a speck as he balanced unassisted on a tightrope suspended 3532m high between two Swiss mountaintops.

It was not Freddy Nock's first time on this high-wire crossing - but this was his highest attempt yet, and his life (and a new Guinness World Record) was literally hanging on the line.

Cameras positioned on neighbouring peaks capture the fearless daredevil, calm and collected, as he balances above a breathtaking glacier world in the Upper Engadine.

There is no cord ensuring Nock's safety should he fall, and his balance pole is the only thing keeping him from plunging to certain death below.

With the tightrope measuring 347m in length, the 50-year-old Swiss stuntman is forced to complete the walk in intervals, resting for a breather before pushing on.

At one point he even lowers himself into a seated position on the 18mm-thick wire, pausing to readjust his gear before slowly rising to his feet again.

Unknown minutes pass and a camera attached to the end of his balance pole shows the tightrope finally begin to taper up as the finish line draws close.

According to the Guinness World Record book, Nock successfully completed the walk on March 20 to claim the highest tightrope record (ground supported) – a title that has stood for more than 30 years.

He smashes Frenchman Philippe Petit's previous benchmark of 411m (1350 ft) set during a tightrope walk between New York's World Trade Centre towers back in August 1974.

Source: YouTube