How did the daredevil skydiver survive 25,000ft fall WITHOUT a parachute?

Aikins used a 'mystery device' to make his perilous descent, shown during a live television broadcast dubbed "Heaven Sent".

After a two-minute freefall, he landed dead centre in the 100x100ft net at the Big Sky movie ranch on the outskirts of Simi Valley, California.

Before the stunt it was claimed the married 42 year-old third-generation skydiver, who has made about 18,000 jumps in his 25-year career, used only air currents and 'nothing but the clothes on his back'.

"I'm almost levitating. It's incredible, this thing that just happened," Luke said after making the "perfect landing".

"The words I want to say I can't even get out of my mouth," he told Fox Carolina.

He was due to land on his back on equipment which organisers would only describe as a 'slide'.

Aikins made history by becoming the first person to leap without a parachute and land in a net instead.

As cheers erupted, Mr Aikins quickly climbed out, walked over and hugged his wife Monica, who had been watching from the ground with their four-year-old son Logan and other family members.

Aikins, who claims it is a world record for jumping without a parachute, previously worked with Felix Baumgartner on the Austrian daredevil's 2012 record skydive which started 24 miles above the earth.

Aikins has done movie stunt work for blockbusters like Godzilla and Iron man 3, serves as a safety and training advisor for the United States Parachute Association (USPA), and provides advanced skydiving training to elite military special forces.