Stuntman dies in ponytail zipwire record attempt

A STUNTMAN attempting to break a world record by travelling on a zipwire hanging only by his hair has died.

Sailendra Nath Roy is watched by onlookers as he hangs on a rope while attempting to cross the River Teesta. Picture: Getty

• Stuntman suffers heart attack during world record attempt

• Spectators were unable to reach Mr Roy as he became entangled in wire

About 1,000 people had gathered to watch Indian stuntman Sailendra Nath Roy, 49, as he crossed the River Teesta on the outskirts of Siliguri, in north-east India.

Mr Roy – a policeman who held the Guinness World Record for covering the longest distance on a zipwire hanging by his hair – suffered a heart attack minutes later and died during the attempt.

After completing half of the distance, his hair became tangled in the rope’s wheeler and was unable to move.

Mr Roy was eventually rescued by police after hanging motionless for around 20 minutes, with spectators unable to reach him.

He was later taken to hospital in Siliguri, but died on arrival.

Mr Roy had achieved the Guinness World Record after covering 82.5 metres attempting the same feat in 2011 at the Neemrana Fort, a heritage hotel in Rajasthan.