This is the death-defying moment a daredevil from Leeds shows no fear as he leaps around a roof of a 43 storey-high Dubai building.
In this extraordinary footage, 23-year-old freerunner David Nelmes stands precariously on the edge of the Al Dar skyscraper in the Dubai Marina, before fearlessly leaping across huge gaps in the roof of the building, 242 feet above the ground.
He doesn’t even appear to hesitate as he risks his life making his way across the skyscraper – just one slip from death.
Mr Nelmes first got into freerunning after seeing videos on YouTube and has been honing his skills from the tender age of 17.
He said: ‘I was naturally good and a fast learner, my gymnast background may have also helped.
‘When you’ve practiced jumps 10000 times at ground level, it’s only in your mind at height.
‘Once you become confident and calm, it’s easy and safe. In the video I was just excited, there wasn’t that much adrenaline once I had done it a few times, so it was easier to push it and do the bigger gaps with each time of trying.
Mr Nelmes first got into freerunning after seeing videos on YouTube and has been honing his skills from the tender age of 17. He said he was a natural
‘When you’ve practiced jumps 10000 times at ground level, it’s only in your mind at height’ Mr Nelmes said about his daring stunt
Mr Nelmes had six years of training Parkour on ground level before starting to practice at height
‘I’ve had injuries but nothing really serious. Worse is a broken shoulder and a few minor fractures. It’s actually one of the safest sports and isn’t adrenaline fuelled like the general public think’ Mr Nelmes said
‘I’ve had injuries but nothing really serious. Worse is a broken shoulder and a few minor fractures. It’s actually one of the safest sports and isn’t adrenaline fuelled like the general public think.
‘You have to always be in control and calm when doing most movements in this sport and a lot of technique and experience plays a part when you see the viral and ‘high risk’ videos online.
‘It’s often safer than ground level because when you attempt something at height you are 100 per cent sure of yourself and mentally prepared to avoid any accidents. Whereas on the ground you are more likely to risk a jump or move because you know it’s unlikely to end in death.
‘I’ve had six years of training Parkour at ground level and in safer environments which allows me to perform these ‘stunts’ comfortably.
‘People should not try this without experience and training.’
On the rooftop, Mr Nelmes was joined by two fellow freerunners and Anyuta Rai, a Russian model who boasts and Instagram following of 2.4 million.
Mr Nelmes was accompanied by Russian model Anyuta Rai who has 2.4million Instagram followers
Strike a pose! Mr Nelmes contacted Anyuta Rai via Instagram and asked if she wanted to shoot with him in Dubai
This British daredevil and former gymnast shows no fear as he performs a death defying stunt on the roof of a building 70 storeys high and sits on the edge of the skyscrapers
‘It’s often safer than ground level because when you attempt something at height you are 100 per cent sure of yourself and mentally prepared to avoid any accidents. Whereas on the ground you are more likely to risk a jump or move because you know it’s unlikely to end in death’ Mr Nelmes said
Up in the sky! Mr Nelmes got views of some of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers as he dashed around the roof of the 43-storey building
Accompanied by four friends at the top of the Al Dar tower, Mr Nelmes and his group posed 242 feet high