THE tragic death of a young daredevil has been broadcast to millions after the stunt expert died while attempting pull-ups from the ledge of a 62-storey skyscraper.

Dubbed "China's first roof-topper" Wu Yongning was well-known for his stunts, which he published widely on social media - so that in the end, even his death would be recorded.

2 "China's First Rooftopper" Wu Yongning carried out hair-raising stunts regularly and shared them with his fans on social media Credit: AsiaWire

Who was Wu Yongning?

Wu Yongning was a 26-year-old daredevil from China, who is believed to have made a living from created viral videos through hair-raising stunts.

The thrill-seeker posted stomach-flipping footage of hanging off treacherously tall buildings and structures and gained lucrative sponsorship deals for doing so.

He was referred to on occasion as the "Chinese Superman" and is believed to have been a pioneer of the roof-topping movement in his country.

His tragic fall occurred as he was trying to film pull-ups from the top of the Huayuan International Centre in Changsha, capital of the Hunan Province in Central China. It is believed he free-climbed “nearly 20 more floors” to reach the position where he filmed.

2 The shocking video appears to show Wu Yongning losing his footing as he attempted pull-ups at the Huayuan International Centre and tragically fell to his death Credit: AsiaWire

According to Chinese media, his goal was to "take on the world's high-rise buildings without any protection".

A recent investigation by Beijing News found he had posted more than 500 short videos and livestreams on Huoshan, a video sharing site.

He had reportedly made at least 550,000 yuan (£62,000) from sharing his clips on the platform.

The South China Morning Post quoted his step-uncle as saying that he planned to propose to his girlfriend the day after the challenge.

"He needed the money for the wedding, and for medical treatment for his ailing mother," he is reported to have said.



Was his death captured on video?

Wu Yongning filmed nearly all of his exploits and shared them on social media platform Weibo and video website Huoshan.

The shocking video that has now emerged appears to show him attempting several pull-ups before losing his grip and falling to his death, which can be viewed at the bottom of this page.

Police believe Wu fell about 45 feet onto a terrace below and died of fatal injuries during or shortly after the accident. His body was allegedly discovered by a window cleaner.

Chinese media have commented on the perilous nature of livestreaming since Yongning's tragic fall.

One editorial in Chinese Daily said that the climber's death was a reminder of the need for stronger supervision of livestreaming apps. "Some of them try to hype things up with obscene and dangerous things, and their purpose is to attract more eyeballs and make a profit," the editorial stated.

When did he fall from the Huyuan International Centre?

Wu Yongning's girlfriend, known only as "JinJin", confirmed on Friday that he died on November 8.

Fans had already begun to speculate about his death due to the unusual absence from social media since November 8.

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What is rooftopping?

Rooftopping is a practice of accessing rooftops for the thrill of it - and sometimes to take dizzying skyline photography, demonstrated by Yongning in his stunning shots.

The urban sport has spiked in popularity in recent years, with activists sometimes using the mode to create awareness around political campaigns.

Rooftopping is usually carried in cities, and often filmed or photographed and shared by those undertaking the stunts.