Stuntman's parachute snared on Statue of Liberty
( 2001-08-24 12:06 ) (7 )

A French stuntman snared the parachute of his paraglider on the torch of the Statue of Liberty and dangled hundreds of feet (metres) from the ground on the statue's massive arm before being hauled to safety and promptly arrested on Thursday.

A French stuntman snared the parachute of his paraglider on the torch of the Statue of Liberty and dangled hundreds of feet (metres) from the ground on the statue's massive arm before being hauled to safety and promptly arrested on Thursday.

The Frenchman circled the towering statue in New York Harbor, and in an attempt to land on the torch under the golden flame, his parachute became entangled on it, officials and witnesses said. The stuntman, who goes by the name of Terry Do emblazoned on his orange parachute, told several media outlets on Wednesday that he wanted to bungee jump off the torch.

Instead, he was left dangling for about 40 minutes on the statue's right arm that holds the torch, his parachute flapping in the wind. Do, who had a propeller that looked like a large fan strapped to his back, was rescued by New York police officers and US Park Police.

"We got him up inch by inch, we got him to the top and we got him into the torch," New York police officer Christopher Ballou, one of the men involved in the rescue, said at a news conference.

The stuntman was arrested by the US Park Police and led away in handcuffs to cheers and boos from tourists. The site was closed temporarily while police officers used a rope to pull Do to safety.

A four-count complaint was later filed against Do in Manhattan federal court. The complaint, which identifies him as Thierry Devaux, accuses him of landing on an "archeological and cultural resource," intent to cause a public nuisance and trespass.

The complaint said that when the defendant was asked by US Park Police why he tried to pull the stunt, he responded "he wanted to land on the torch for pleasure."

Sgt. William Vitolo of the US Park Police said if Do, 41, is convicted, he faces up to six months imprisonment. Charges under New York State law are also possible.

SIMILAR FEATS IN THE PAST

"Terry Do tried to perform this act and not only did he put himself in danger, the lives of the cops in danger, he also put the lives of innocent people near the statue in danger as well," New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik said at the news conference.

Officials said Do has attempted similar feats over the past 10 years with varying success at the Statue of Liberty, on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Brooklyn Bridge in New York and the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France to America in 1884, is 151 feet (46.02 metres) high from the base to the torch and 305 feet (92.96 metres) high from the foundation of the pedestal to the torch.

Paragliders are usually foot-launched, non-motorized craft with an inflatable wing that can easily reach heights of several hundred feet (metres). The Frenchman's craft consisted of a parachute and a large propeller strapped to his back.

Officials said no one was injured in the incident, and no damage appeared to have been done to the statue, which was erected on Liberty Island in 1886.