Megastunts: Nik Wallenda Takes the First Step in His Tightrope Walk Over Niagara Falls

and allow us to welcome Nik Wallenda to Canada as he crosses over the border again some 60% of the way or so through his walk as he makes his way up hill he'll be doing so in Canadian airspace and for those of you wondering especially on social media Twitter and Facebook yes Nik Wallenda in addition to that 40-pound balancing pole is also traveling with this passport as we want to check in with his father now Terry Terry ATS Hanna and Josh would now be a good time to check in with Nick you know I think Nick's ready to answer a couple more questions okay Nick tell us what has been most challenging for you thus far you know that mist was thick and it was hard to see at times it's it's been a challenge and it's all been visual more than anything you know it's so important as in the earlier piece that my vision and I'm able to see and be able to focus and it was very hard to focus there was so much moving around me when going one way missed going another it wasn't pretty that's for sure very uncomfortable for a while and that mist was that wind was wild you know I'd heard all the stories but to actually feel it you know it would come at me one way and then hit me from the front and then hit me from the back and it was definitely definitely quite a challenging and you know nothing that I wasn't prepared for but more than I expected that's for sure Nick if this was a race and make no mistake it most certainly is not but you'd be rounding that turn and making your way home as you do that I wonder we've said and it was all postulating all theory but that you did enjoy walking uphill as opposed to other parts of this walk how is it as you make your way up to Terra Firma you know I'm strained I'm drained you know this is so physical not only mental but physical and fighting that wind isn't easy in my hands actually at this point feel like they're going numb I feel like I'm getting weak and you know I'm just looking at that prize on the other side and you know that anticipation is building and I just want to get in there I want to get through that homestretch and hit that finish line and knit what is it that will carry you to that finish line you know pure endurance endurance and its audience that's here that I'm hearing at this point I'm just starting to hear him believe it or not those Falls are so loud then until now I haven't been able to hear them but I'm hearing them and that's gonna give me across to the other side [Applause] as well what's up that you're doing fine just done we have entered the last steps but we have come to know is the final test and this is where the training the conditioning will pay off we heard Nick himself just said he is drained and who could blame him remember he's been on the wire now for almost 25 minutes I can only imagine the adrenaline now we'll take them those final stats as you kneel as he drops to a knee and smiles and points to the crowd acknowledging them exhorting him home again emotionally and physically what a struggle it might have been but now steps from home steps from the loving embrace of his family and steps from history Sam champion has a bird's-eye view of it all Sam what are you seeing I'll tell you we are standing here on the platform Hannah as he is just making his final play Angie over I'm here with this beautiful family his Uncle Mike is holding the guidewire as he approaches the scissor lift this is apparently a tradition and you can see he's getting this smile on his face as he gets closer that seeing Uncle Mike holding the tension on that wire lets him know that he's home he's almost home we have officials from Canada on the platform here who will be here to greet him he will make his first connection with them as is law and he will kiss and hug and hold he has entered his 22nd minute of the walk sprinting to the fence he breaks the tape Nik Wallenda walked in his way into history I hope you will with us to see it all it's not something you will see anytime soon Nik Wallenda looking some 1,500 feet becoming the first person to traverse Niagara Falls directly over the Falls themselves hugging his uncle and acknowledging the crowd blowing kisses getting love the process of processing himself on campus Uncle Mike the NASA engineer who helped design and build oír was so instrumental and getting his precious family member safely across

Channel: ABC News

Views: 734,440

Keywords: Josh Elliott, Nik Wallenda, Megastunts, daredevils, stuntmen, high wire, tightrope, Niagara Falls, dangerous stunt, sky walk, crazy stunt, adrenaline rush, 20/20, entertainment

Id: Ka2vnJWQxyo

Length: 6min 19sec (379 seconds)

Published: Sat Jun 16 2012