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Man suffers horrific death during 'flat-earth' stunt in homemade rocket

A Californian man who wanted to fly to the edge of outer space to see if the world is actually round has died after his home-built rocket malfunctioned and crashed to earth.

In a video posted on the BBC news website, ‘Mad’ Mike Hughes said he didn't want to take anyone else's word for the earth being a globe.

“I don't know if the world is flat or round,” he said.

So he built a rocket in an ambitious attempt to see for himself.

However the scepticism of the 64-year-old ultimately ended in tragedy when the rocket he was piloting crashed on private property near Barstow, California, on Sunday, AEST.

Almost immediately after take-off, the parachute broke away from the rocket. Source: AAP
Almost immediately after take-off, the parachute broke away from the rocket. Source: AAP

Freelance journalist Justin Chapman caught the whole thing on video, sharing the clip on Twitter.

“Mad Mike Hughes just launched himself in a self-made steam-powered rocket and crash landed. Very likely did not survive,” he wrote alongside the footage.

In the video, the rocket’s parachute can be seen snapping off from the rocket, leaving Mr Hughes with no way to safely land. After being airborne for just a few seconds, the rocket begins a free-fall to earth before crashing in a puff of dust.

Shrieks can be heard from onlookers as the rocket ploughs into the desert.

The fatal launch was to be featured on a show for the Science Channel on US television.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mike Hughes' family and friends during this difficult time. It was always his dream to do this launch, and Science Channel was there to chronicle his journey,” Science Channel said in a statement.

In 2017, the Associated Press reported that the self-taught rocket scientist and limo driver was building his rockets out of salvaged parts in his garage.

In March 2018, Hughes propelled himself about 570 metres into the air. He deployed one parachute and then a second one but still had a hard landing in the Mojave Desert in California, and injured his back.

According to Discovery, the latest rocket launch was supposed to take him more than 1,500 metres above earth.

The self-styled daredevil died on the weekend, aged 64. Source: AP
The self-styled daredevil died on the weekend, aged 64. Source: AP

In a video previously posted on his YouTube site, Hughes said he also wanted “to convince people they can do things that are extraordinary with their lives”.

“If you’re not scared to death, you’re an idiot,” Hughes said. “It’s scary as hell, but none of us are getting out of this world alive. I like to do extraordinary things that no one else can do, and no one in the history of mankind has designed, built and launched himself in his own rocket.

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