0:00:17 > 0:00:21The search for superhumans has taken me to the very edge of the Earth.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24I don't want to move a muscle in case I fall!
0:00:24 > 0:00:27But imagine not only being able to stand here,
0:00:27 > 0:00:31but being able to perform incredible feats of acrobatics up here!
0:00:31 > 0:00:36To do that would take nerves of steel or the powers of a superhero.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40A superhero like Spider-Man, with amazing balance and agility,
0:00:40 > 0:00:44or like a real-life Daredevil, with absolutely no fear!
0:00:44 > 0:00:47But I've heard of a REAL man with super-agility -
0:00:47 > 0:00:50a man who can balance on anything.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52A man with no fear.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57Eskil Ronningsbakken discovered he had incredible balancing skills
0:00:57 > 0:01:01when he was a child in Norway and, at 18, he joined the circus.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Over ten years later, Eskil lives life on the edge,
0:01:04 > 0:01:07performing death-defying stunts all over the world,
0:01:07 > 0:01:10without any safety harnesses.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13Tim's travelled to the USA to meet up with Eskil.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19And here he is! Eskil, it's fantastic to meet you, it really is!
0:01:19 > 0:01:22- Nice to meet you. - Is it true what they say -
0:01:22 > 0:01:25- can you balance on absolutely anything?- ALMOST anything.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28There's nothing I know about that I couldn't balance on.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Standing on the edge of anything is really, really scary.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34- Is it still scary to you? - Yes, it's still a little bit scary -
0:01:34 > 0:01:38that's natural to any human being, to feel a little bit of fear.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41But what I learn is to control this fear.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44What we would like to do is to put you through three Super-Tests
0:01:44 > 0:01:47to try and work out what it is that makes you so unique.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50In order to do this, we're going to have to find someone
0:01:50 > 0:01:53to perform with you. A man to try and match you.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56A man who will probably not do that well.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58Eskil, it's me. Are you up for that?
0:01:58 > 0:02:00- Oh, yeah. Welcome aboard.- OK!
0:02:00 > 0:02:04This is Dr Megan John. She's an expedition doctor
0:02:04 > 0:02:08and has kept people alive in some of the most dangerous environments.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12She's devised three Super-Tests to discover how Tim and Eskil's bodies
0:02:12 > 0:02:14react differently when balancing.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20For Super-Test One, we're off to Hollywood, Los Angeles.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23Hollywood is famous for big film stars
0:02:23 > 0:02:25and even bigger film studios.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30What do you think? This is a real Hollywood film studio!
0:02:30 > 0:02:32This is massive, this is huge!
0:02:32 > 0:02:34This is about the size of a full-size football pitch -
0:02:34 > 0:02:36this is enormous!
0:02:36 > 0:02:37And, Tim, not only is it big,
0:02:37 > 0:02:40you'll notice it's quite high, the ceilings, too.
0:02:40 > 0:02:41Yeah, REALLY high.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Well, Tim, it's 11.5 metres high, to be exact,
0:02:44 > 0:02:47which is almost the same height as three double-decker buses.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50The studio needs to be high because, for this test,
0:02:50 > 0:02:54Dr Megan is getting Tim and Eskil to attempt a crate climb.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56They will have to balance on top of milk crates
0:02:56 > 0:02:59as they stack them higher and higher.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02As the stack gets higher, the task gets harder,
0:03:02 > 0:03:04so Dr Megan is testing who's got the best balance
0:03:04 > 0:03:06and can climb the highest.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09As usual, she'll be recording what's happening to their bodies.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15Firstly, I'm going to be fitting these bands around your heads,
0:03:15 > 0:03:17which will record your brainwaves.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19And I'm going to put an accelerometer on you both,
0:03:19 > 0:03:22just between your shoulder blades.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24Now, essentially this piece of equipment measures
0:03:24 > 0:03:26how much wobble you're doing.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Balancing on anything is extremely dangerous -
0:03:29 > 0:03:31you should never attempt to try anything like this
0:03:31 > 0:03:34without specialist equipment and experts present.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38Dr Megan has asked experienced climbing experts
0:03:38 > 0:03:42to help set up this test and to be on standby all the way through.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45They're attaching Tim and Eskil to safety ropes.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48These ropes will not hold them up or help them stay balanced,
0:03:48 > 0:03:51but they will catch them when they eventually fall off the crates.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54- Are you both ready to go?- Yeah.- Yes.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56Right, then, Tim, you're up first.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00The higher the crates get, the more wobbly they become,
0:04:00 > 0:04:04and your body automatically moves to try and stay balanced.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08As you get higher, you might get scared, panic and make mistakes.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12If you get really scared, your muscles could start to shake,
0:04:12 > 0:04:14making it even harder to balance.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17Eventually the tower will become so high and unstable,
0:04:17 > 0:04:20it will topple over and you'll fall off.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23Without a safety harness, you would seriously injure yourself,
0:04:23 > 0:04:24or even die.
0:04:24 > 0:04:29OK, I'm going to go. Doing this... Standing on that one.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33There we go.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36OK. And I mustn't stand like this, obviously,
0:04:36 > 0:04:39cos when I get higher, they could go like that.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41- That would be bad, wouldn't it? - That would be bad.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45OK. So if I stand on one crate like this, and do that...
0:04:46 > 0:04:48Let's try the next one. Thank you.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53OK, that was quite wobbly getting up on that one.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57- I've got to watch that.- Even at these relatively low number of crates,
0:04:57 > 0:05:00every time he adds one in, he starts to wobble more.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02What's happening to Tim
0:05:02 > 0:05:05is all to do with what's going on inside his ears.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11Your inner ears send signals to your brain to tell it you are moving.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14Deep inside your ear there are three little loops filled with liquid.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17In the liquid there are lots of tiny hairs
0:05:17 > 0:05:19which sway back and forth, like weeds in a river.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21When you move, the liquid in your ear moves,
0:05:21 > 0:05:23making the tiny hairs move too.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26These moving hairs tell your brain that you're moving.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28Your brain can then quickly tell your muscles
0:05:28 > 0:05:31to shift you in the opposite direction to keep you balanced.
0:05:35 > 0:05:36There it goes.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39Every time he steps up, he has to look down to the ground
0:05:39 > 0:05:42to pick the crate up, and that causes an adrenaline surge
0:05:42 > 0:05:43and his legs start to shake.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46Just watch his leg as he climbs up onto this next level.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51OK... Ooh!
0:05:51 > 0:05:52I'm shaking a lot.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55It feels harder when you're this high up.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58It must be my brain going, "It's really hard, it's really scary!"
0:05:58 > 0:05:59There we go.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02There's a little peak there,
0:06:02 > 0:06:05as he's started to wobble more and more.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08It's just constantly moving now.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11Wow, it really has got more wobbly,
0:06:11 > 0:06:13and I'm having to focus really hard.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17I feel my brain is telling my legs to do a lot of this with my feet.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19Tim is doing this
0:06:19 > 0:06:22because, to stay balanced, you need to keep your weight over your feet,
0:06:22 > 0:06:26and your brain will move bits of your body to keep you balanced.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30In all your muscles, you have sensing cells called proprioceptors
0:06:30 > 0:06:33that send a signal to your brain so it can work out
0:06:33 > 0:06:36where your body bits are, even if you're not looking at them.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40Every time your muscles move, these proprioceptors move too,
0:06:40 > 0:06:43so your brain can keep a track of where every bit of your body is
0:06:43 > 0:06:45and move bits of it to keep you balanced.
0:06:46 > 0:06:52After 16 minutes, Tim is now on box ten and is very wobbly.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56I can just feel that the crates are going to go away from me.
0:06:56 > 0:06:57Whoa... Whoa! Wow!
0:06:57 > 0:07:00I've never thought I was going to go THAT way before.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03I thought I was going to go forward off the top of these.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07Wow, my balance is all over the place. Whoa... Whoa, whoa, whoa.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10Let's just right ourselves here. Come on.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13Oh! Here we go, I'm on ten. I'm on ten.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16From the accelerometer, I can see that Tim really struggled
0:07:16 > 0:07:18to keep his body still.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22There's a lot of variation in the graph here.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24It's crate number 11 for Tim,
0:07:24 > 0:07:27and he's really starting to look unsteady now.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30This is not a good scenario. Uh-oh.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32The whole block is actually moving there.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36Oh, my word, I've separated the columns now.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38I've separated the columns out.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41I don't know how long this is going to last, Megan.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43I've got to be honest, Doctor.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46OK, nice and calm, nice and calm, nice and calm...
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Talking to themselves is one of the things people do
0:07:49 > 0:07:51to calm themselves down when they're nervous.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54And Tim is doing it a lot.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56- Oooh!- Oh!
0:07:56 > 0:07:59Wow, that took the most supreme effort of balance
0:07:59 > 0:08:02I think I've ever managed in the history of my life.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05Oh, I don't like this at all.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07This is so wobbly.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10But I'm not sure how long this is going to last, Megan.
0:08:12 > 0:08:13OK.
0:08:14 > 0:08:15Uh-oh.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18One...
0:08:18 > 0:08:20two...
0:08:20 > 0:08:21three...
0:08:24 > 0:08:28Whoa! And at last, Tim has fallen!
0:08:28 > 0:08:31I've gone! It's not gone well.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Actually, it's gone better than Tim thinks.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37It took 45 minutes to get there, but Tim managed to balance
0:08:37 > 0:08:42on an impressive 12 crates, which is 3 metres 66cm high.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44That's taller than the top of a fire engine,
0:08:44 > 0:08:47which is a really good result.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49But let's see how Eskil does.
0:08:49 > 0:08:50Let's do it.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01Was two....
0:09:01 > 0:09:04Eskil is already working much faster than Tim
0:09:04 > 0:09:06to start building his crate tower.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10He's making these first few crates look easy.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12And then number five...
0:09:12 > 0:09:15The point of balance for the body is through the middle -
0:09:15 > 0:09:17through the tummy button.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19Every time Eskil does a vulnerable move -
0:09:19 > 0:09:22putting another crate on top of the pile -
0:09:22 > 0:09:25he does so crouched down
0:09:25 > 0:09:28to try to reduce the amount of wobble.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30Another one, please.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33He's controlling his breathing, controlling his movements.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Everything is considered, is thought about.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Crate number seven is more than halfway
0:09:41 > 0:09:43to the height of Tim's crate tower.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46Eskil is speeding towards Tim's total of 12 crates.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48It's just taken him
0:09:48 > 0:09:52a lot less time to get used to each new step that he takes.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57Eskil doesn't seem to have that fear factor.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00He's completely in control of his movements.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04See how he's using his breathing and his arms to stabilise himself.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08But actually, the central part of his body is barely moving at all,
0:10:08 > 0:10:11from the data I'm getting from the accelerometer.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15So that's number ten, Eskil.
0:10:15 > 0:10:16Ten crates in, and only now
0:10:16 > 0:10:20does Eskil's tower show the first signs of wobble.
0:10:20 > 0:10:21You're doing really well.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28Eskil is now on crate 11.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31Moving from crate 11 to 12
0:10:31 > 0:10:34is the height that Tim lost his balance and fell.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44But Eskil's still able to balance on the crates.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49With Eskil, it's not about mind over matter.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51It's not that he's frightened of this.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54It's just the sheer challenge, physically,
0:10:54 > 0:10:57of standing on top of a load of crates.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01After only 19 minutes, Eskil is already on crate 15,
0:11:01 > 0:11:04three crates higher than Tim managed.
0:11:04 > 0:11:05He may be making this look easy,
0:11:05 > 0:11:08but his body is working really hard to keep him balanced.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12Eskil is now over five metres in the air,
0:11:12 > 0:11:14plus his own two-metre height.
0:11:14 > 0:11:19And with each new box, he's adding another 30.5cm to that height,
0:11:19 > 0:11:22making the tower more and more precarious.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31Amazingly, Eskil is now onto his 18th crate.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35This is six crates more and almost two metres higher than Tim climbed.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51And he's still standing and happy to attempt crate number 19.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59Remarkably, the tower is now almost 5 metres 80cm high,
0:11:59 > 0:12:02and it's become incredibly unstable.
0:12:04 > 0:12:05HE GRUNTS
0:12:11 > 0:12:13Wow! WOW!
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Eskil managed to stay balanced at over two metres higher then Tim.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22He got to an amazing 5.8 metres,
0:12:22 > 0:12:25which is around the height of an average giraffe.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27As Tim's results show, most people lose their balance
0:12:27 > 0:12:31much quicker than Eskil, so what makes him able to do it?
0:12:33 > 0:12:37When you're balancing, you need to keep your weight over your feet.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41If you start to tip to one side, your brain signals to your muscles
0:12:41 > 0:12:43to move the other way, to stop you falling.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45But if you're balancing on something unusual,
0:12:45 > 0:12:49you're likely to move too far and lose your balance.
0:12:49 > 0:12:50Because Eskil has been practising
0:12:50 > 0:12:53balancing on unusual things for over 20 years,
0:12:53 > 0:12:55his brain has learned to tell his body
0:12:55 > 0:12:59to do tiny movements, so he doesn't move too much and lose his balance.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03'Tough test! But there are places
0:13:03 > 0:13:06'where incredible balance is vital to survive.'
0:13:07 > 0:13:10The Korowai tribe live in the Indonesian rainforest.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12Balancing is second nature to them
0:13:12 > 0:13:17because they live in tree houses over 35 metres above the ground,
0:13:17 > 0:13:20taking everything they need up tall bamboo ladders.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24If they fell, they would die.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27But even the youngest children move with ease amongst the branches
0:13:27 > 0:13:30without using ropes or harnesses.
0:13:30 > 0:13:35Up high, they escape jungle floods, biting insects and attackers.
0:13:35 > 0:13:36For the Korowai,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39the higher your tree house, the more you are respected.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46For this test, Dr Megan has taken Tim and Eskil
0:13:46 > 0:13:49to the Aquatics Center in Pasadena, LA.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54Take a look up there. That's a ten-metre-high diving board.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57I think that one of the most important things about being able
0:13:57 > 0:14:01to balance well is to overcome your body's natural fear of heights.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04So to really up the fear factor for today's test,
0:14:04 > 0:14:07you're going to be doing it without harnesses.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09No harness! You're going to feel free today.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13It's really high, Eskil. That's much higher than we were yesterday.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15I really don't like heights.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18- But you've got water underneath. - I REALLY don't like heights.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21To test Tim and Eskil's fear levels,
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Dr Megan will be asking them to perform a number of moves
0:14:24 > 0:14:28on the edge of this ten-metre-high diving board.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31Move one is to stand on the edge looking out.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34Move two is to stand on one leg.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36Move three is to stand with their backs to the water
0:14:36 > 0:14:39and their heels over the edge of the board.
0:14:39 > 0:14:43Move four is to do a handstand right on the edge of the diving board.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48I'll be fitting you both with heart-rate monitors.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51We know that the more frightened you get, the faster your heart goes.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53And I'll be fitting you with GSRs.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56They'll show me how sweaty you're getting.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58Guys, let's get you kitted up.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00Diving boards can be really dangerous
0:15:00 > 0:15:03and trying moves like this at such a height could kill you.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07Dr Megan has safety lifeguards on stand-by, and Tim and Eskil
0:15:07 > 0:15:10have been briefed about the best way to hit the water if they fall.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13No-one should ever try anything like this.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17Tim, if you can make your way up to the ten-metre board...
0:15:17 > 0:15:19OK, I'm coming up.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24An average human will feel fear
0:15:24 > 0:15:26standing on the edge of something ten metres high
0:15:26 > 0:15:29and your brain sends out an alarm to your body,
0:15:29 > 0:15:31telling you to get down quickly.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34If you don't, your heart starts to race,
0:15:34 > 0:15:36your pupils open wider
0:15:36 > 0:15:37and your hairs stand on end.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39You start sweating.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Eventually, you will begin to panic and become confused.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45If you get really scared, you could have a panic attack
0:15:45 > 0:15:48and you might pass out and fall off the edge.
0:15:48 > 0:15:49Falling from this height
0:15:49 > 0:15:50would cause serious injury
0:15:50 > 0:15:53and possibly even death.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56- How you doing, Tim? - I don't like this.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00If at any point you really feel like you can't go on, that's fine.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03- OK.- So if you make your way towards the edge of the board
0:16:03 > 0:16:07- and just stand still at the edge for ten seconds.- OK.
0:16:07 > 0:16:08I don't like this.
0:16:10 > 0:16:11OK.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Tim is terrified of heights
0:16:14 > 0:16:16and just standing on the top of the diving board
0:16:16 > 0:16:20makes him feel scared - so walking to the edge is a real challenge.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24So you can see if you look closely, his legs are already shaking.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27He's struggling to stay balanced, even at this position.
0:16:27 > 0:16:28His heart rate...
0:16:28 > 0:16:31144 beats a minute.
0:16:31 > 0:16:36That's over 50 beats a minute extra than what he was doing at rest.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38OK, Tim. You did really well in that first position.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40If you could step back for me...
0:16:40 > 0:16:43- Whoa, WHOA!- How did that feel?
0:16:43 > 0:16:45Yeah, I'm not happy in this environment.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47This is not a good environment for me.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51Tim found standing at the edge of the diving board so scary
0:16:51 > 0:16:54that Dr Megan is concerned that he won't cope with
0:16:54 > 0:16:59the next stage of the challenge - balancing on one leg.
0:16:59 > 0:17:00It's going to be much harder to balance.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02You're already a bit shaky, even here,
0:17:02 > 0:17:03so I think it's probably sensible
0:17:03 > 0:17:06if you take off this extremely expensive GSR kit.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09Do you think that? Did you get my sweat readings?
0:17:09 > 0:17:11- We have so far.- OK.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Tim is sweating because he's scared.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17And this is because when your brain thinks you're in danger,
0:17:17 > 0:17:20it immediately starts sending signals
0:17:20 > 0:17:22to adrenal glands near your kidneys.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25These glands release a hormone called adrenalin into your blood,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29which makes your lungs work harder so you breathe more oxygen.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32Your heart beats faster to get more blood to your muscles
0:17:32 > 0:17:35and two million sweat glands on your skin start sweating
0:17:35 > 0:17:37to help you stay cool.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39You react like this because when you're scared,
0:17:39 > 0:17:42your body gets ready to run away fast from danger.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45But will Tim be able to face his fear?
0:17:45 > 0:17:48When you feel comfortable, if you can stand on one leg
0:17:48 > 0:17:50and hold it for ten seconds, OK?
0:17:50 > 0:17:54It's just not a job for a man with a chronic fear of heights!
0:17:54 > 0:17:57This is real mind-over-matter stuff for Tim.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00Every part of his body is telling him he's in danger
0:18:00 > 0:18:03and he should run away, not balance at the edge on one leg!
0:18:05 > 0:18:08With a ten-metre drop in front of him, Tim is working really hard
0:18:08 > 0:18:12to overcome his fear, but can he complete the Super-Test?
0:18:14 > 0:18:16Now, this is a concrete diving board
0:18:16 > 0:18:19so if I feel that he's likely to fall and hurt himself,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22I'm going to have to stop him. You can see how much he's shaking.
0:18:25 > 0:18:26I just can't do this, Megan.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30Tim can't control his fear, as his brain is making him feel scared
0:18:30 > 0:18:33to keep him away from danger.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36This is because your brain is made up of lots of different bits,
0:18:36 > 0:18:39and there's a special bit that feels fear called the amygdalae.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42When you're up high, your eyes send a signal to your brain
0:18:42 > 0:18:43so you know you where you are.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45Then your amygdalae check with your memory banks
0:18:45 > 0:18:47to see what you know about heights.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50For most people, your amygdalae decide that
0:18:50 > 0:18:53you are in danger of falling and they'll make you feel scared.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56This then triggers signals to your adrenal glands to start working
0:18:56 > 0:18:59and then you get you ready to run away.
0:18:59 > 0:19:00Tim, you were just so shaky
0:19:00 > 0:19:02I think there was a real risk of you falling.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04I'm not happy with you carrying on.
0:19:04 > 0:19:05I don't want you to hurt yourself.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08We need to keep you going for Super-Test Three.
0:19:08 > 0:19:09- Aw, you care!- I care.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14Tim's fear of heights eventually proved too much
0:19:14 > 0:19:17and he attempted only two of the moves Dr Megan had planned.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19But this is a normal human reaction.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22Now Dr Megan wants to see how Eskil reacts.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27So for this one, if you make your way to the end of the diving board
0:19:27 > 0:19:29and just stand still for about ten seconds.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36He seems completely comfortable.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40Even just how quickly he walked to the end of the diving board.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43So, how will Eskil get on standing on one leg,
0:19:43 > 0:19:46which is as far as Tim got in this Super-Test?
0:19:46 > 0:19:47In your own time.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53So even trying to balance on one leg at ground level is really difficult.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01This is a seriously dangerous challenge.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04Even in your local pool, you should just NOT try this at home.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08You've been amazing so far.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10What I'd like you to do for the next challenge is stand
0:20:10 > 0:20:14with your heels over the edge of the diving board, facing back at me.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21Just getting into position for this move is dangerous.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25Eskil's ten metres up but he doesn't seem fazed at all.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29This is extremely uncomfortable to watch.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33It might be uncomfortable to watch,
0:20:33 > 0:20:37but Eskil completes the move as if he's standing at ground level.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41So it's been absolutely incredible watching you so far.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44- Do you feel ready to take the next challenge?- Yeah, I'll do it.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Do you feel that you could do a handstand up here?
0:20:47 > 0:20:48Definitely, I'll do it.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Eskil didn't think twice about that!
0:20:52 > 0:20:56He's showing no fear about performing this handstand at all.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01Human instinct is not to do this at all.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05It's absolutely terrifying just standing up here.
0:21:15 > 0:21:16This is...
0:21:18 > 0:21:20Even at ten metres high, Eskil has so little fear
0:21:20 > 0:21:24he confidently performs an incredibly dangerous handstand.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32Completely in awe of what he's managing up here.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36That was so impressive. How do you feel in yourself now?
0:21:36 > 0:21:38This makes me happy.
0:21:38 > 0:21:39Eskil wasn't at all scared
0:21:39 > 0:21:44and easily managed to complete all of Dr Megan's four moves.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47Unlike me! But I've heard of a man who would have loved it.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52Charles Blondin was born in France almost 200 years ago.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54When he was just five years old,
0:21:54 > 0:21:58he started performing as an acrobat and was soon travelling the world.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00When he saw the mighty Niagara Falls in America,
0:22:00 > 0:22:04Charles wanted to be the first person to cross it on a tightrope.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07Thousands of people watched as he attempted this incredible feat
0:22:07 > 0:22:10across the waterfall on only a thin rope.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14And he did it! Not just once, but again blindfolded.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16Then again, carrying a man on his back.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20And yet again, stopping in the middle to balance on a chair!
0:22:24 > 0:22:26Dr Megan is combining balance and fear
0:22:26 > 0:22:31in her third and most extreme test. She's taken Tim and Eskil
0:22:31 > 0:22:34to some of the highest cliff faces in the world.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37This is the unique Grand Canyon, Arizona.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41From where we are on this ridge down to the Colorado river below,
0:22:41 > 0:22:44it's a 1,200 metre drop.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48This is a very serious and potentially dangerous challenge.
0:22:50 > 0:22:51In this terrifying test,
0:22:51 > 0:22:55Dr Megan has secured a chair to the Grand Canyon
0:22:55 > 0:22:57and wants to see whether Tim and Eskil can do a handstand
0:22:57 > 0:23:02on top of it, and on the edge of this 1,200-metre-high cliff.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08It is a seriously dangerous undertaking.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10They're both being connected up to a harness,
0:23:10 > 0:23:12rigged to a special crane,
0:23:12 > 0:23:14and I've got an expert in climbing on stand-by.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16If they were to lose their balance,
0:23:16 > 0:23:19I'd be able to stop them plummeting right down to the bottom.
0:23:19 > 0:23:24I cannot stress enough how dangerous going near the edge of a cliff is,
0:23:24 > 0:23:26and I would not be even thinking of running this test
0:23:26 > 0:23:28without all the experts here.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34Even with the safety harness and climbing experts on stand-by,
0:23:34 > 0:23:37this is still a very dangerous test -
0:23:37 > 0:23:39and not something to be copied.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42With the safety harness in place, Tim is up first to face the Canyon -
0:23:42 > 0:23:45but if he couldn't manage standing on a ten-metre diving board
0:23:45 > 0:23:47in Super-Test Two,
0:23:47 > 0:23:50how is he going to cope with a 1,200-metre drop
0:23:50 > 0:23:52balancing on a chair?
0:23:52 > 0:23:55- If you look behind you, there's a chair on a platform.- Yep.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59If you're comfortable, I was hoping you could stand on that chair.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02Are you out of your tiny mind? Are you mad?
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Remember you are in a safety harness, Tim.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08If either you or I feel it's unsafe, we'll stop.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10I will do my best, Doctor. I will do my best.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18This is the most terrifying test so far.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22Tim has to use all his concentration to walk to the edge -
0:24:22 > 0:24:24and then go even higher.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33Whoa! Incredibly, Tim has managed to climb the chair
0:24:33 > 0:24:36and balance on the edge of this deadly drop.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39It might be that he feels less scared cos he is wearing a harness,
0:24:39 > 0:24:42or it could be that Tim has learned something
0:24:42 > 0:24:44from watching Eskil over the last two tests.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46How are you feeling, Tim?
0:24:46 > 0:24:48I'm shaking. My legs are shaking.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51My arms are solid. My legs are shaking.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54So a bit shaky, then, but Tim's succeeded.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56Dr Megan, though, hasn't finished yet.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59Before she asks him to try the handstand finale,
0:24:59 > 0:25:00she has one more test for him.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02If you feel that you're able to,
0:25:02 > 0:25:05I'd like to try and stand on one leg.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07Are... Are you having a laugh?
0:25:11 > 0:25:13Oh, my goodness me.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16I'm shaking all over. This is just unbelievable.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21It IS unbelievable. For an average person to perform this move
0:25:21 > 0:25:23at 1,200 metres is incredible.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29Ho, ho! That is a long way down. Can I step away now?
0:25:29 > 0:25:31- Tim, please step away.- OK.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36Tim has done amazingly well,
0:25:36 > 0:25:39but he's decided this is as far as he wants to go.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41Dr Megan will not ask him to try a handstand.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45Now it's time for Eskil to attempt the test.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48He normally performs without a harness but for this test,
0:25:48 > 0:25:51he has agreed to wear one under his suit to catch him if he falls.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57But Eskil has no fear of falling.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01He's even asked for more chairs to make the test more difficult.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04To do this test, he's asked for complete silence.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09He must focus all his concentration. Anything less could be fatal.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14Remember, even doing this with one chair at home
0:26:14 > 0:26:17is extremely dangerous and should not be attempted -
0:26:17 > 0:26:19but on the edge of the Grand Canyon?!
0:26:22 > 0:26:25And unbelievably, he's now added a third chair.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28He's made it to the top of the chair stack -
0:26:28 > 0:26:31but can he now take the ultimate test and perform a handstand?
0:26:33 > 0:26:36At this height, any normal person would be feeling
0:26:36 > 0:26:37an intense fear of falling -
0:26:37 > 0:26:41but performing a handstand over this 1,200 metre drop,
0:26:41 > 0:26:44Eskil is as steady as a rock.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46That is extraordinary, isn't it?
0:26:46 > 0:26:48It's absolutely magnificent.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52Eskil has done it - one man balanced on three stacked chairs
0:26:52 > 0:26:54at the edge of the Grand Canyon.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57It's an absolutely incredible performance!
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Tim did manage to overcome his fear
0:27:00 > 0:27:02and stand on one leg on one chair -
0:27:02 > 0:27:07but Eskil really has taken this Super-Test to new heights.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11Eskil, that was a phenomenal example of physical and mental strength.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13How do you feel now?
0:27:13 > 0:27:16This is probably the best feeling I can achieve in my life.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19What you've done is truly extraordinary.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22If I had not seen that with my own eyes, I would not have believed it.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26I came looking for a superhero,
0:27:26 > 0:27:29a real-life man with super balance and absolutely no fear.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33I found one. Eskil Ronningsbakken, you are superhuman!
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd