Xiang Jun, 26, of Dongguan, Guangdong province, danced and walked on the high voltage cables for four hours before finally jumping down to a giant air cushion. Friends said he had been drinking and had been angry about recently losing his job, reported Guangzhou Daily.

"He was invited to a lunch, and drank a lot, and then he climbed onto the tower," said one friend. Firefighters arrived within five minutes of him climbing a mast and getting on to the cables - but could not talk him down.

Instead they ordered power to be cut off - so he could not electrocute himself - and arranged for the air cushion to be brought in. "We had to hold the safety cushion underneath him and keep walking with him all the time as he could have fallen at any moment," said one fireman.

Doctor Yuan, at Wan Jiang Hospital where Xiang was taken afterwards, said he was unhurt but was suspected of suffering from depression. Police are still investigating the incident and it is not yet known whether Xiang will face charges.

A drunk tight rope walker... now that is a circus I'd go and see!

The original was here