Behind the Scenes of Nik Wallenda's Death-Defying Stunt in Times Square

Nik Wallenda and his sister, Lijana, are returning to the high wire for the first time since a 2017 accident broke every bone in Lijana's face.

Nik Wallenda and his sister, Lijana, are returning to the high wire for the first time together since their terrifying accident in 2017.

"They say if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere, so my goal is on Sunday night to make it from there to here," he told Inside Edition. 

After conquering the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls, the Wallendas are on to Times Square, where they will traverse “The Crossroads of the World” for their latest death-defying feat. 

On Sunday night, as thousands watch below and millions watch at home, they will walk on a wire strung between the building where the New Year’s Eve ball drops every year and another building 1,300 feet away. 

"The closest I have ever come to a nervous breakdown, and this is not me at all, is the other night putting up this high wire. We had six hours to put a wire up without damaging a $12 million screen on one side and about $10 million worth of screens on the other as well as we had pedestrians flowing underneath us the entire time," Wallenda admitted. 

Lijana, who was seriously injured when the Wallendas rehearsed their famous eight-person pyramid in 2017, will join him.  

During the 2017 rehearsal fall, Lijana hit the ground and broke every bone in her face. She's undergone more than 50 surgeries.

"She is doing good, although, the mental side of this is difficult. Look, it is really stressful," he said. 

Nik said crossing Times Square has been a lifelong dream.

RELATED STORIES

Latest News