Skydiver Gary Connery makes history by safely landing without parachute - New York Daily News

A British daredevil's leap from a helicopter half-a-mile above the Earth on Wednesday has landed him firmly in the record books.

After landing safely in a field following a 2,400-foot plunge, Gary Connery has become the first skydiver to safely land without a parachute, according to reports.

The father of two accomplished the feat thanks to his specially designed "wing suit" and about 18,600 cardboard boxes that broke his fall, Sky News reported.

"It was so comfortable, so soft," Connery told Sky News after sailing head first into the cardboard landing pad.

"My calculations obviously worked out and I'm glad they did."

Connery, 42, leapt out of a helicopter above Henley-On-Thames, England, with about 100 onlookers cheering him on, according to reports. The stunt lasted about 50 seconds, and with five seconds left, Connery spread his arms and legs open, resembling a flying squirrel.

Doing so helped to slow him down from about 80 miles per hour to a glide speed of 50 miles per hour and a vertical falling speed of 15 miles per hour, The Telegraph newspaper reported.

That ensured the crash wouldn't crush his body. His lightweight nylon suit, however, did include an emergency parachute if he needed it.

Connery celebrated the accomplishment with a kiss from his wife, Vivienne.

"I have been training and planning for this record attempt for many years now and I am so proud to have achieved a world first," he told reporters.

The adrenaline junkie is used to pulling off incredible stunts, and has performed in the "Harry Potter" movie franchise and "Batman Begins."

He's reportedly completed 880 sky dives and 440 base jumps, including off the Eiffel Tower and the London Eye.

Connery told reporters he has another stunt up his wing suit, but declined to dish on the details.

As it turns out, skydivers have been racing to break records lately: Felix Baumgartner, 42, of Austria, plans to skydive this summer from a balloon 120,000 feet in the atmosphere. His goal is to break a record set in 1960.