American tightrope walker Nik Wallenda is set to walk on a wire 200ft (61m) above the US 41 highway in Sarasota, Florida, without a safety harness.

The Sarasota City Commission is allowing the circus performer and six-times Guinness World Record holder to perform the stunt without a tether.

Wallenda wore a tether for the first time last summer when he walked across Niagara Falls because the television network that was paying for the performance insisted on it.

He is scheduled to start his Sarasota Skywalk at Bayfront Park at 10.30am local time, weather permitting. The wire ends at the Marina Tower Condominium, and part of US 41 will be shut during the walk.

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