Local lad Aidan Heslop returns home to complete dive from the top of Royal William Yard, Plymouth

19th April 2023

This week, cliff diver Aidan Heslop geared up for the 2023 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series by performing a series of spectacular teaser dives at the historic Royal William Yard in Plymouth, showing the world what’s to come in this year’s competition.

Heslop, who will return to compete as a permanent diver in the 2023 edition of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, performed the dives straight into the water at Royal William Yard – the largest collection of Grade I listed military buildings in Europe. The Red Bull athlete celebrated his 21st birthday by performing a double half, triple half, flying front, flying reverse and running double half dive, taking off from a height of 21 metres, in his hometown of Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City.

The dives were performed as part of a global series of teaser dives, taking place round the world to promote the upcoming Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series – the competition in which Heslop finished second overall last year. The full 2023 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, which kicks off in Boston on 3 June 2023, will be available to watch on Red Bull TV.

The Plymouth resident originally burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old, becoming the youngest ever diver to compete in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, making his debut at the 2018 season finale in Polignano a Mare, Italy.

Since his debut, Heslop has gone from strength to strength picking up his first Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series event wins in Boston, United States and Sisikon, Switzerland last year. His performances led to a second place in the overall standings, behind only Gary Hunt – the legendary cliff diver and winner of nine out of eleven Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.

Speaking after completing the dives, Heslop said: “I’m buzzing to be able to pull off a dive like that in such a cool location in my hometown. The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series has given me the opportunity to dive in some amazing locations around the world, but there’s something extra special about being able to do it in your hometown and a location that holds so much history.”

Heslop will now turn his attention to trying to win the 2023 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, where he will be joined by his girlfriend, fellow cliff diver and TikTok sensation, Molly Carlson, who also finished runner-up in the 2022 women’s Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.

For more information on this year’s series, visit: Redbull.com/cliffdiving

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Please note, there is a lot of training, planning, and safety that goes on behind the scenes prior to a Red Bull cliff dive, this is definitely not something that should be attempted without professional training.