No-parachute stuntman lands safely

A stuntman has became the first person to jump out of a helicopter and land without using a parachute.

Gary Connery, 42, used a special “wingsuit” to make the death-defying leap 2,400ft above the fields of Oxfordshire, the first time anyone has successfully jumped from such a height without deploying a parachute.

The adrenaline junkie, who has performed stunts in Hollywood films including Indiana Jones, Batman Begins and The Beach, helped develop the suit, which enables him to glide through the air.

After jumping out of the helicopter, Mr Connery plunged downwards before accelerating to speeds of around 80mph as his wingsuit came into play.

The short flight ended with him landing on a specially-made “runway” made up of around 18,000 cardboard boxes.

Before carrying out the flight in countryside near his home in Henley-on-Thames, Mr Connery said he was “100% confident” he would be successful.