Wu Yongning, a Chinese daredevil known for scaling skyscrapers without safety equipment, died last month after slipping off a 62-story building in the central city of Changsha, according to multiple reports.
Yongning, a martial arts-trained stuntman with a background in film, aimed to use an equivalent of $15,000 in prize money from the feat to fund his wedding and treatment for his sick mother, the South China Post reported.
|
Advertisement |
The 26-year-old Wu’s step-uncle, Feng Shengliang, told the Beijing News that Wu “planned to propose to his girlfriend” the day after filming the challenge and “needed the money for the wedding, and for medical treatment for his ailing mother,” according to the Post.
It remained unclear who sponsored and organized the challenge to scale Changsha’s Huayuan Hua Centre sans safety equipment, a feat known as “rooftopping.”
Rootoppers tout millions of followers on social media, dangling over stunning heights in a bid for views and likes. A 23-year-old Russian model dangled off a 1,004-high tower in Dubai earlier this year, receiving no shortage of criticism. Wu told his viewers not to imitate his stunts, the BBC reported.
More: Russian model in hot water after dangling from atop Dubai skyscraper
Police confirmed that Wu’s death took place on Nov. 8, according to the Post. The daredevil’s much-followed social media presence went dark, per Britain’s Daily Telegraph, with thousands of fans taking notice.
Wu’s girlfriend left a revealing post on Friday, the newspaper reported: “Today is December 8th. It makes me think of November 8th, the day you left us and left this world.”
Chinese rooftopping star Wu Yongning fell to his death from 62-storey building while attempting a challenge. https://t.co/IXG7tKYSCj pic.twitter.com/uRRtyEz6hD
— The Straits Times (@STcom) December 12, 2017