A man has made history after crossing on a slackline between Sicily and mainland Italy.
Three-time slacklining world champion and Hollywood stuntman Jaan Roose made the journey on a 1.9cm-wide slackline last Wednesday.
He walked across the Messina Strait covering over 3.6km above the churning waters.
Mr Roose told Moncrieff connecting ropes between an island and a mainland is unusual.
"Usually we use drones or we just walk underneath and connect the ropes," he said.
"But over the Messina Strait between Sicily Island and the mainland of Italy we had to use bigger machinery.
"We used a helicopter to get the first pilot rope connection and then later on using the pilot rope - the strong connection - to pass over the whole slackline".
Jaan Roose on the slacklineMr Roose said the rope was connected to two pylons 235 metres tall.
"They used to be the two biggest pylons in the world - they were carrying high voltage power cables," he said.
"Now there is no power cables; they're just huge towers standing and they looked perfect for the slackline".
Mr Roose said there is a difference between a slack line and a tightrope.
"A slack line is flat webbing, [it] depends on the material, it's always flat," he said.
"Either it's nylon or polyester... to have the least [amount] of stretch as possible because on a long distance the less stretch it has the better.
"We don't use any special equipment for the balancing; except just our own arms and legs.
"The slackline shakes and moves in the air, it is affected by the wind."
The slackline was spanned between two old power pylons. © Matteo Mocellin / Red Bull Content PoolMr Roose said part of it can feel like you're walking uphill.
"While I'm standing walking on it, in the beginning, it goes like downhill so I have to be careful with the steps not to slide over it," he said.
"In the middle it's kind of flat and then from the middle - two-thirds of the slackline - it starts going uphill.
"So it feel more like [you're] walking up the stairs."
Jaan Roose. Image: © Matteo Mocellin / Red Bull Content PoolMr Roose said it's important for him to stay focused.
"The brain works in a way that it focuses on the important moments like keeping the balance," he said.
"At the same time there are a lot of distractions coming in like boats passing underneath, drones flying around, I hear scooters, dogs people.
"It takes my attention and at the same time I have to fight with [putting] my focus on the little single step".
Mr Roose said while he had a small slip near the end, "I was not feeling bad at all - I walked all the long distance on the longest slackline ever rigged so far".
Mr Roose has a safety leash in place but it doesn't do anything to help his balance.
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