Daredevil Dies in Fall From 62-Story Building

Wu Yongning had reportedly posted more than 300 videos of his 'rooftopping' feats
By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 11, 2017 11:11 AM CST

He was famous on social media, then went silent. Now Wu Yongning's fans have learned why he stopped posting in November. The BBC reports that the Chinese daredevil, known for posting videos of himself at the top of tall buildings scaled without safety devices, is confirmed to have died in a fall from a 62-story building in Changsha on Nov. 8. The South China Morning Post describes the 26-year-old's life-ending stunt as a somewhat selfless act, saying Wu was undertaking the "rooftopping" challenge in hopes of winning $15,000 in prize money in order to pay for his sick mother's medical treatment, and also to fund a wedding with a woman that his step-uncle says he planned to propose to after the challenge was complete.

The Telegraph's explanation of the money is that Wu, who had 1 million followers, was trying to secure it by filming himself promoting an unspecified sponsor. Shanghaiist reports the building was 862 feet tall. The Telegraph describes the more than 300 videos he posted as showing stomach-turning feats like him doing pull-ups from treacherous heights. Indeed, per the Daily Mail, video shows Wu doing pull-ups atop the Huayuan International Centre and then falling; he reportedly plummeted 45 feet to a terrace where a window cleaner later discovered his body. The Telegraph quotes a post from his girlfriend made Friday: "Today is December 8th. It makes me think of November 8th, the day you left us and left this world." (A daredevil who did the unthinkable at Everest also lost his life in November.)

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