NEW YORK (PIX11) — It was a death-defying stunt in a heavenly atmosphere.
Philippe Petit, now 74, walked a high wire across the span inside the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine on Thursday night.
As Petit crossed the wire several times, 1,400 people held their breath. The tight rope was 20 feet above the marble floor and no net was underneath. Petit was going through a display of colorful ribbons hanging from the Cathedral ceiling.
Anne Patterson, the creator of the “Divine Pathways” art installation, told NewsNation affiliate WPIX her palms were sweating at times while watching him.
“Did you see there were times when it got wrapped around his ankle and his thigh, and he had to do a little ballet move to get it off?” Patterson said.
Nearly 50 years ago, in August of 1974, Petit gained the world’s attention when he walked a tightrope between the Twin Towers.
He was arrested for that stunt, but the charges were eventually dropped.