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The heartstopping moment a daredevil base jumper parachutes off a 500ft West Midlands skyscraper

Heartstopping footage shows the moment a daredevil base jumper parachuted off the top of a 500ft skyscraper in the West Midlands.

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The thrill-seeker, who does not wish to be named, sparked a large-scale police response after he leapt from the tower block in Birmingham on Friday (January 31). 

Incredible footage shows him plummeting to the ground before his parachute is deployed and he lands in the road in between two buses.

A gobsmacked West Midlands Police officer can be seen running up to him and asking: "Where did you come from?"

The jumper replies "A plane just dropped me off...out of nowhere., it just flew over there."

The adrenaline junkie said: "This was more exciting than most other jumps, due to the additional factors involved such as the difficult access, a security guard on-site and the police presence.

"The police were quite heavy handed and keen to cuff and arrest before fully understanding the situation. 

"They assumed that we may have some involvement in what was initially highlighted as a burglary. 

"But they were very quick to respond and diligent in their questioning. 

Thrill-seeker jumps from the 509ft One Eastside' tower block at the corner of James Watt Queensway in Birmingham
Thrill-seeker jumps from the 509ft One Eastside' tower block at the corner of James Watt Queensway in Birmingham

"Why do we do this? Well, it's been a personal journey for me from my military career, war fighting in Afghanistan and clearing Improvised Explosive Devices isn't something you get to do back in the UK working a 9-5. 

"So upon returning, I was still chasing the adrenaline bug. Fast bikes, parachuting and now base jumping.

"Regular skydiving is fun, but there are lots of rules and limitations within the sport. Base jumping gives you the freedom to make your own stupid decisions; get them right you stay alive. 

"Nothing compares to that feeling of accomplishment, the meticulous planning, packing, jump and extraction, in most cases un-detected. 

"For me, it expands my mindset of what is possible and gives me the buzz that I don't get from the military anymore, making the standard working week, less mundane. 

"You also meet an incredible group of close friends and fellow jumpers on the way. 

"This is simply the tip of the iceberg - 'slider up jumping' is a completely different world, experience and feeling."

Team of police officers respond to scene as thrill-seeker jumps off a Birmingham tower block.
Team of police officers respond to scene as thrill-seeker jumps off a Birmingham tower block.

Sharing footage of the insane stunt on social media, @letsmakestupiddecisions posted: "Epic BASE Jumps in the big city and 10/10 for response times and their professionalism. 

"Never ideal getting compromised, but we live and learn, until the next time."

The man had jumped from the 509ft One Eastside' tower block at the corner of James Watt Queensway which is still under construction.

One person replied: "Got the whole squad out on that one"

Another added: "The way the police officer starts look upwards" and a third put: "Where's the plane? ROFL."

Thrill-seeker jumps from the 509ft One Eastside' tower block at the corner of James Watt Queensway in Birmingham
Thrill-seeker jumps from the 509ft One Eastside' tower block at the corner of James Watt Queensway in Birmingham

A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: "We were called to reports of a number of people on a building site in Birmingham city centre just before 9pm on Friday.

"A number of people were spoken to but there were no reports of criminal offences."

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