Video Of The Week - Acrobat's Heart-Stopping High-Wire Act

On Augu

st 6th, Chinese high-wire artist Saimaiti Aishan earned himself a fourth Guinness World Record when he walked a distance of 15 feet on a tightrope that was attached precariously to two hot air balloons suspended 100 feet above the ground.

The event, which took place in Shaoyang, Central Hunan was witnessed by hundreds of spectators and also, broadcast live on television. Except for one heart-stopping moment when the 27-year-old acrobat was forced to sit on the rope to regain his balance, the five-minute walk went relatively smoothly.

While most people would be happy with this incredible achievement, Saimaita was not satisfied. The same afternoon, the acrobat made another attempt for the record books - This time from a higher altitude of 100 meters (328 feet). However, he was not as successful - Two minutes into it, he lost his balance and fell off the wire - Luckily, he was attached to a safety harness, and the balloons were quickly lowered, allowing him to land on the ground safely. However, we have a feeling this little mishap is not enough to discourage this daredevil - He will be back soon performing his high wire act from even loftier heights!

Resources: telegraph.co.uk, sportsillustrated.cnn.com