Diver jumps out of helicopter in front of Statue of Liberty in New York

Stunt aimed at promoting the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series

Where Cliff Diving falls on the spectrum of professional sports is debatable, but there's no denying the dare devil pursuit makes for some brilliant pictures.

To mark the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series heading to the US, 38-year-old Orlando Duque jumped out of a helicopter into New York Harbor in Manhattan - backwards.

"It's really exciting to get such a warm welcome back to the US," said the Colombian after his dive into the Hudson. "It doesn't get any better than diving in front of something as iconic as the Statue of Liberty. It's beyond what I ever could have imagined."

After four stops in Europe, the next leg in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series takes place in Boston on August 25. The current leader in the series in which 12 divers jump from heights of 27 metres is Gary Hunt from England.