THEY were some of the most breathtaking moments captured on film, leaving any watching with their hearts in their mouths.

Scaling a 300ft crane in Southampton, daredevil James Kingston lowered himself down before dangling from a metal bar, holding on for his dear life with only his hands.

Then, removing one hand, just five fingers prevented him plunging to the ground to certain death.

Safety campaigners and building firms have condemned the death-defying stunt, fearing copycats will try to ape his jaw dropping antics.

However James, from Southampton, defended his extreme sport last night to the Daily Echo and claimed his life was never in danger.

But the 22-year-old did admit that his hair-raising hobby scares the life out of his mum as she suffers from vertigo.

He said: “Me hanging on the crane is exactly the same as me hanging at 10ft. It is where you are mentally and how confident you are.

“You can’t afford to be scared.”

James said he would discourage amateur copycats, but said people could not be stopped from taking up the daring vocation.

The former St George’s School pupil has been practising Parkour – or free running – for the past six years after becoming inspired by a television documentary. He hopes to move to the US and break into stunt work there.

James claims his hair-raising hobby transformed him from a drifting school leaver to someone focused on an art form that has given him confidence, energy and goals to aspire to.

He said: “Back when I was younger I had problems and quit school in Year 10 and never got GSCEs.

“After school I had nothing to do except play on my computer games.

“I was chubby and had low self esteem. Then I saw the documentary on Parkour. I began training for a year or so.

“When I first started I was terrified of heights. It is just an amazing constant progress.

“I tried climbing bigger cranes and got bigger and bigger. You tend to get higher and higher and overcome your fears physically and become 100 per cent able.

“I’ve climbed a 300ft crane in LA. I haven’t really climbed anything iconic. Just high cranes all over the country and some of the world.

“I have a lot of videos showing buildings I have climbed and jumped around on.”

James denied he was an attention seeker.

He said: “One thing that I would really stress to people is I am not doing it to make people love me or to make money out of it.

“I have a passion. I am not worried about the fame but I would like to continuing travelling and making videos.

“I enjoy documenting my life so when I am old and wrinkly I can look back atit all.

“To the outside world it’s crazy and reckless but to others it is a way of life and we try hard at the things we do.

“When I am doing it there is no doubt in my mind. There is not so much adrenaline now. I have become numb to it.”

James said his mum fears for his safety but has also acknowledged how he has changed for the better as a person since taking up Parkour.

He added: “My mum could see the effect it was having on me as a person. My confidence was growing and I was having more friends – it completely changed my life.”