The stealthy dare devil in the video is Dean Sullivan. He walked away from that stunt without a scratch, and was able to avoid Parks Police.
Now he wants to go legit. Sullivan would like to leap from the Skylon Tower this summer. His only equipment will be an ordinary climbing rope tethered to the structure. He's already scheduled to leap from a crane to promote a festival in Niagara Falls, Ontario this summer. Plus he'd like to leap out of a helicopter at Niagara as revealed in this article from the Niagara Falls Review:
Skylon Tower spokesman Lee Carr says the jump shouldn't be a problem, so long as Sullivan has the proper insurance. The Skylon has attracted base jumpers before, but no one has ever rappelled off the 160-metre tower. Carr believes it would be a hit with tourists, and a way to utilize the city's daredevil past.
"We have a history," he says. "There is a heritage of stunting in Niagara Falls."
Celebrate Old Downtown has booked Sullivan for two upcoming festivals: Springlicious May 30 to June 1, and the more apt Dare Devil Days Aug. 15 and 16. In addition to rappelling off a 200-foot crane near Queen Street, Sullivan wants to stage his coupe de grace - a 1,000-foot plunge from a helicopter.
Niagara Helicopters operations manager Rene Huessey says the stunt needs approval from Transport Canada and the usual insurance. But someone jumping from a copter with only a rope "won't be an issue."
Celebrate Old Downtown events co-ordinator Shane Sargent says stunting, for better or worse, will be forever linked with Niagara Falls, so why not capitalize on it?
"I don't think the event wants to celebrate daredevils, except we do want to recognize our unique history."
Doing a fully approved stunt will help Sullivan take the next step. Or leap.
"If he's part of the festival, it has to be all legal," says Sargent. "Or we just can't be involved. For his part, if he wants to be a professional that's what he's got to do."
"Every man will die, but very few will live ... that's a good saying. I forget where it came from, but it's true. At least I know I've done a few things in the world nobody else has done. And there's billions of people in this world.
We'll keep you posted on this story. Sullivan is scheduled to jump from a crane during the 'Celebrate Old Downtown' festival May 30-June 1.
