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Livewire Darrel's "heart-stopping" stunt

Intrepid Kent and Sussex Courier reporter Darrel Billingham was unable to refuse an invitation to try circus tightrope stunts from the safety of the office, but soon thought twice when he saw what he was in for.

Darrel joined performers from the world-famous Moscow State Circus, despite having fears of “bearded ladies, hungry lions and a date with a hospital bed”.

He met up with 49-year-old Russian Goussein Khamdoulaev – one of the world’s greatest circus performers – for a lesson in tightrope walking.

Darrel told Courier readers: “Reassurances from colleagues of a safety net and comprehensive insurance cover did little to ease my tension.

“Attempting the highest wire walk in Europe was a bit out of my league, and even the ‘low’ eight-metre platform felt a long way up.

“With the harness boosting my confidence and balance, the walk still seemed quite a distance and in the middle the wire gave a few heart-stopping wobbles, but thankfully I made it across.”

And if walking the tightrope alone wasn’t enough to make Darrel feel the heat, the warmth of the big top lights beaming down on his moment of truth made the stunt even more intense.

He said: “The walk back was slightly easier and the experts congratulated me before showing me how it should be done without a safety harness.

“Running, jumping and walking backwards with no net below made my efforts look tame.”

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