DUBAI // The US performer Bello Nock has come up with a hair-raising idea for a stunt in Dubai, which he has called the “Burj to Burj”.
Nock, who claims to be the inspiration for Bart Simpson’s vertical hairstyle, will begin his stunt by walking a high wire across the Dubai Fountain lake at the foot of the Burj Khalifa.
He will then be whisked off to the Burj Al Arab, dangling by one leg from a helicopter.
After being dropped off on the luxury hotel’s helipad, Nock, 45, will be shot out of a cannon to fly over the Dubai skyline using a specially designed wing suit.
All of this relies on the stuntman gaining permission for the various stages from the authorities.
Nock hopes the proposed spectacle will trump what he has called the “Ultimate” stunt, which will be filmed in Las Vegas in August and streamed live around the world on his pay-per-view website.
He is calling the Dubai stunt “Ultimate 2” and hopes to perform it as soon as possible.
“Hello Dubai. Recently I challenged you to come up with an epic stunt for me to do in your city,” Nock said in a video posted on YouTube.
“I’ve had some time to think about it, and I’ve come up with something called the ‘Burj to Burj’.”
The posting follows a visit to Dubai last week to promote his show.
“I’m more than ready, willing and able,” said Nock. “All I need now is the invitation.”
On his trip to the Emirate, he said Dubai had many examples of feats of engineering that people had thought could not be achieved.
That idea of achieving the seemingly impossible was what Nock strived for in his 30-year career as an extreme stuntman, he said.
He added, however, that he would not do the stunt without official permission.
“I’m absolutely ready for the challenge now, but I’m not going to do something illegal,” he said. “I’m not going to do a stunt while the authorities aren’t looking.
“Could I do that? I absolutely could and still be safe. I’m a man of no fear, but tremendous respect.
“I would never do that in someone else’s house or country. I’m looking for the invitation first.”
His “Ultimate” stunt in Las Vegas will feature high-wire walks and being shot out of a cannon over the rotating blades of a helicopter.
Nock said he did not fear death but he had never had any major accident in his long and successful career.
“I’m a guy who lives life on the edge,” he said.
“In fact, if you’re not living life on the edge, you’re taking up too much room.”
mcroucher@thenational.ae
