TORONTO – Thrilling footage of three extreme-skydiving enthusiasts BASE jumping from 1 World Trade Center in New York City last year was released Monday after the daredevils surrendered to police.
BASE stands for Building, Antenna, Span, and Earth.
The skydivers and a man accused of acting as a lookout are facing charges in the September 30 jump.
The GoPro footage shows one the base-jumpers landing on a nearly deserted lower Manhattan street, where he quickly rolls up his parachute and stuffs it in a bag.
The foursome face charges of burglary, reckless endangerment and misdemeanour jumping from a structure.
It was “very exhilarating,” one of jumper Andrew Rossig told the Associated Press as he walked into a New York police department.
“It’s a fair amount of free-fall time,” he said. “You really get to enjoy the view of the city and see it from a different perspective.”
Police Commissioner William Bratton said the investigation was a joint endeavour by the NYPD and the Port Authority police.
“These men violated the law and placed themselves, as well as others, in danger,” Bratton said. “These arrests should send a message to anyone thinking about misusing a landmark this way. They will be tracked down and they will face serious charges. Being a thrill-seeker does not give immunity from the law.”
According to the New York Post, the jumpers’ lawyer said any ad revenue generated from ads on the YouTube video will be donated to charity.
–with a file from Associated Press
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