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[–] someguyfromcanada [S] 0 points 6 points (+6|-0) ago  (edited ago)

The Flying Wallendas is the name of a family of stunt performers, most known for performing highwire acts without safety nets.

Karl Wallenda was born in Magdeburg, Germany, in 1905 to an old circus family, and began performing at the age of six. In the following decades, Karl developed a family act that performed some of their most impressive stunts ever seen. Many of the performers died during performances, including 2 people killed and one paralyzed after the collapse of their seven-person chair pyramid.

Despite being involved in several tragedies, Wallenda continued and in 1978, at age 73, Wallenda attempted a walk between the two towers of the ten-story Condado Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on a wire stretched 121 ft (37 metres) above the pavement. Due to high winds, he fell to his death during the attempt. Video of his fall may be seen here.

There are several branches of the Wallendas still performing today, comprising mostly grandchildren of Karl Wallenda, and they have achieved several recognitions in the Guinness Book of Records.