Gary Connery 2400 Skydive Photos & Video

Wingman Gary Connery completes 2,400ft jump without parachute

Gary Connery 2400 Skydive Photos & Video

, Gary Connery has jumped off Nelson's Column, the London Eye and the Eiffel Tower.

In fact, the experienced stuntman has completed nearly 900 skydives and 450 base jumps.

But nothing that the father-of-two has done before compared to his latest challenge, which was so terrifying that even he admitted to nerves beforehand.

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The 42-year-old today jumped from a helicopter at 2,400ft above his home town of Henley-on-Thames.

He then 'flew' in a specially-designed wing suit for nearly a mile before landing on a pile of cardboard boxes - without using a parachute.

The stunt marked the first time anyone has jumped from such a height without deploying a parachute - and lived.

Mr Connery, who had to wear a parachute for the jump due to safety rules, was celebrating with champagne minutes after being back on the ground.

He said: 'I feel incredible, just completely elated. I have been training and planning for this record attempt for many years now and I am so proud to have achieved a world first.

'I want to thank everyone involved for their support and belief in me because this really has been a team effort.

'Tonight will be all about celebrating with friends and family, tomorrow I will be plotting my next daring challenge.'

Mr Connery has concentrated on doing wingsuit jumps since discovering them eight years ago.

This morning, he had successfully completed a test 'flight' with a fellow stuntman, deploying his parachute before landing.

But a test run yesterday didn't go so well - high winds caused him to miss his landing site and instead plummet into a nearby hedge.

Speaking to The Independent, the ex-paratrooper said: 'One side of my brain is saying "what on earth are you doing?".

'But the other side is saying "You know you can do this".'

He will be in free fall travelling at about 80mph for three seconds before his suit inflates.

This will enable him to glide and slow down to about 60mph.

His flight will last just 45 seconds before he will attempt his audacious landing on a total of 18,600 cardboard boxes.

He will have a parachute on him for safety but he does not intend to deploy it - despite admitting that his wife Vivienne, and children Kali, 15 and Lydia, 19, will probably worry about him.

But through his jump, Mr Connery hopes to share his experiences with other people.

He said: 'I want them to be inspired by what I am doing to do something in their own lives.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2148581/Birdman-Henley-aims-jump-2-400ft-pile-cardboard-boxes-completes-test-flight--plummets-hedge.html#ixzz1viEitEx1