Skydiver jumps from 25,000 feet with no parachute in world first

A daredevil has leapt from a plane 25,000 feet into a giant net, becoming the first person in the world to complete a skydive without a parachute.

Luke Aikins was in free fall for around two minutes after jumping from a small propeller plane above Simi Valley, California on Saturday.

The 42-year-old was not wearing a wing suit or emergency parachute for the jump, which was broadcast live on television.

"I'm almost levitating, it's incredible," Mr Aikins said of the jump. "This thing just happened. I can't even get the words out of my mouth.”

He thanked the dozens of crew members who spent two years helping him prepare for the jump, including those who assembled the net and made sure it worked.

While Mr Aikins has made over 18,000 skydives, he admitted being nervous before his latest feat.

During his fall, Mr Aikins was accompanied by three other skydivers, who did have parachutes.

One collected an oxygen mask Mr Aikins discarded at around 10,000 feet. Another was wearing a smoke canister to make the jumpers visible to those on the ground, while the third jumper was filming.

As the group neared the ground, they backed off, giving Mr Aikins space to complete the jump without distraction.

Lights guided Mr Aikin as he fell into a large trawler-like net, suspended above the ground by poles, which measured 30 metres by 30 metres. He hit it at around 120mph.

Later, on his Facebook page, Mr Aikins said: “We did and cannot thank everyone enough for the support. My vision was always proper preparation and that if you train right you can make anything happen. Thank you!”

A spokesman for him said: “Aikins’ leap represents the culmination of a 26-year career that will set a personal and world record for the highest jump without a parachute or wing suit.”

An experienced skydiver, Mr Aikins works at the US Parachute Association and also trains Special Forces troops in parachute techniques. He was the backup jumper in 2012 when Felix Baumgartner became the first skydiver to break the speed of sound during a jump from 24 miles above Earth.