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Flying Wallendas Defy Death, Cross Times Square On Highwire

hmorse June 24th, 2019
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: People watch as Nik Wallenda and Lijana Wallenda cross Times Square on a high wire strung between two skyscrapers 25 stories above the pavement on June 23, 2019 in New York City. The two siblings from the famed Flying Wallendas safely crossed the span while thousands watched from below. This was the first professional appearance for Lijana Wallenda since her near-fatal accident in 2017 when she broke nearly every bone in her face. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The brother and sister Flying Wallendas highwire act successfully dodged death last night in New York City…or DID THEY?

Nik Walenda and his sister Lijana, 40 and 42 respectively, are seventh generation daredevils. Last night, perched 25 stories above the ground, they crossed between two skyscrapers in Times Square, each walking 1,300 feet. When they met in the middle, Lijana sat down and Nik crossed over her and then they continued in the opposite direction of each other, successfully completing the near quarter mile tightrope walk.

Per order of New York City officials, they both had to wear safety harnesses. That didn’t sit well with some of the spectators. Was it not death defying enough? Lijana fell some 25 feet and was seriously hurt during a tightrope walk gone bad in 2017. Their grandfather, Karl Wallenda, fell to his death in 1978 in Puerto Rico at the age of 74!

WATCH the Wallendas cross Times Square on a tightrope!

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