AssetID: 53738361
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Red Bull Skydivers Fly Through London's Tower Bridge
Caption: Two Austrian skydivers, Marco Fürst and Marco Waltenspiel, became the first-ever daredevils to conduct a wingsuit flight through London's iconic Tower Bridge. In a display of precision navigation and unparalleled skill, Fürst and Waltenspiel embarked on their daring journey from a helicopter, hurtling towards the River Thames from an altitude of 3,000 feet. With nerves of steel, they soared just 35 metres above the water, threading the needle between the imposing towers of the historic bridge. Their high-speed flight, clocking in at a remarkable 246 km/h, saw them complete their drop in a mere 45 seconds. Expertly executing a complex 'flare' manoeuvre, the duo safely ascended and deployed their parachutes, ensuring a controlled landing on designated barges awaiting them on the Thames. Fürst said: “I just feel amazing. The jump was beautiful and everything worked out really well. In the last two and a half years we planned everything through and had the best preparation and training. I really enjoyed the journey and I’m really grateful to work with Marco and such a good team to bring our dream to life” Waltenspiel echoed his sentiments, adding: “You can't rebuild this unique bridge. We did around 200 training jumps just for this day, just for this minute. The difference between training and today is, of course, huge. It’s not a common jump, it’s unique. It was quite intense and I’m super happy now.” Preparations for this extraordinary endeavor commenced in April 2022, with Fürst and Waltenspiel spearheading the development of a specialized training site in Oxfordshire, UK. This site, complete with two cranes mimicking the dimensions of the Tower Bridge, allowed them to practice their daring escapade. The significance of their achievement extends beyond mere spectacle, highlighting the transformative impact of wingsuit flying on skydiving. As members of the esteemed Red Bull Skydive Team, Fürst and Waltenspiel have consistently pushed the boundaries of the sport, with a repertoire that includes soaring over Croatia’s heart island and navigating Austria's iconic downhill ski run, 'The Streif'. Reflecting on his achievement, Waltenspiel concluded: “ It’s just insane to get this opportunity to fly through such a unique landmark - you see stunts like this in films, but to actually do it ourselves is amazing. It gives me goosebumps just talking about it.”
Keywords: red bull,skydiving,sport. extreme sports,features,photo,video,london bridge,london
PersonInImage: