This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18466739#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Nik Wallenda set for Niagara Falls tightrope walk | Nik Wallenda set for Niagara Falls tightrope walk |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A man from a celebrated family of professional daredevils is set to attempt a tightrope walk across Niagara Falls in a televised stunt. | A man from a celebrated family of professional daredevils is set to attempt a tightrope walk across Niagara Falls in a televised stunt. |
| Nik Wallenda is scheduled to make a 1,800ft (550m) walk from the US to Canada on a 2-inch (61mm) wire at 10:15 EST (02:15 GMT). | Nik Wallenda is scheduled to make a 1,800ft (550m) walk from the US to Canada on a 2-inch (61mm) wire at 10:15 EST (02:15 GMT). |
| Crowds have already begun forming at Goat Island, where he will begin his walk. | Crowds have already begun forming at Goat Island, where he will begin his walk. |
| Mr Wallenda is the seventh generation of the famed Flying Wallendas. | Mr Wallenda is the seventh generation of the famed Flying Wallendas. |
| The family has performed for more than 200 years, including the signature act that gave the group their name, where two pairs of performers walk the wire, each supporting another aerialist on a pole. | The family has performed for more than 200 years, including the signature act that gave the group their name, where two pairs of performers walk the wire, each supporting another aerialist on a pole. |
| Those two aerialists, in turn, carry a pole upon which the seventh member of the troupe balances in a chair. | Those two aerialists, in turn, carry a pole upon which the seventh member of the troupe balances in a chair. |
| The family has suffered two deaths from falls while performing, including Mr Wallenda's great-grandfather in 1978. | |
| Passport required | Passport required |
| Mr Wallenda will be wearing a safety harness attaching him to the wire, a precaution insisted on by ABC, the US broadcaster which is sponsoring the live broadcast of his walk. | Mr Wallenda will be wearing a safety harness attaching him to the wire, a precaution insisted on by ABC, the US broadcaster which is sponsoring the live broadcast of his walk. |
| While he has not performed with a harness before, he says that it will not take away from the event. | While he has not performed with a harness before, he says that it will not take away from the event. |
| "Now, it doesn't keep me on the wire in any way, it keeps me safe from dying," he told AFP. "I still have to balance. I still have to stay on top of that wire." | "Now, it doesn't keep me on the wire in any way, it keeps me safe from dying," he told AFP. "I still have to balance. I still have to stay on top of that wire." |
| The 33-year-old estimates the total cost of the walk will be around $1.3m (£830,000), including creating and installing the steel wire, as well as permits and security on both sides of the border. | The 33-year-old estimates the total cost of the walk will be around $1.3m (£830,000), including creating and installing the steel wire, as well as permits and security on both sides of the border. |
| Legal liability prevents ABC from funding all of Mr Walenda's costs and materials, so he has taken to online site IndieGoGo to raise further funds. | Legal liability prevents ABC from funding all of Mr Walenda's costs and materials, so he has taken to online site IndieGoGo to raise further funds. |
| As of Friday afternoon, he was 45% of the way towards his goal of $50,000. | As of Friday afternoon, he was 45% of the way towards his goal of $50,000. |
| The walk is expected to take 40 minutes, and when he arrives, Mr Wallenda will reportedly be asked to hand over his US passport to officially enter Canada. | The walk is expected to take 40 minutes, and when he arrives, Mr Wallenda will reportedly be asked to hand over his US passport to officially enter Canada. |
| "I'm keeping it in a Ziploc bag, in my front left pocket, so it can't get ruined as I walk," he told Canadian CTV News. | "I'm keeping it in a Ziploc bag, in my front left pocket, so it can't get ruined as I walk," he told Canadian CTV News. |