Skydiver Makes 25,000 Foot Jump With No Parachute
SIMI VALLEY (CBSLA.com) — Skydiver Luke Aikins has become the first person to survive a jump from almost five miles in the sky without a parachute.
Aikins landed dead center into a 100-by-100-foot net in Simi Valley Saturday.
The net was similar to those used by fishing trawlers.
It's estimated Aikins hit the net at between 120 and 150 mph. He had practiced the stunt more than 70 times successfully.
"I'm almost levitating, it's incredible," Aikins said after he climbed out of the net and hugged his family. "This thing just happened. I can't even get the words out of my mouth."
Aikins jumped with three other skydivers, each wearing parachutes.
The veteran skydiver has made more than 18,000 jumps, and spent two years getting ready for Saturday's history-making stunt.
The 42-year-old daredevil made his first tandem jump when he was 12, following with his first solo leap four years later.
Aikins' father and grandfather were skydivers, and his wife has made 2,000 jumps.
His family owns Skydive Kapowsin near Tacoma, Washington.
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