GARY Hunt has leapt to a fourth Red Bull World Cliff Diving title after a second-place finish in Bilbao at the weekend.

The Southampton-born thrill-seeker ended up behind the reigning champ, Russia’s Artem Silchenko, after competing in the Spanish city against the backdrop of the iconic Guggenheim Museum.

The spot was the picturesque setting for the best cliff divers from around the world to take the plunge from the daunting height of 27m off La Salve bridge, entering the water at almost 56 mph.

And the place on the podium was enough to see Hunt pick up enough points to ensure he will be crowned champion at the final event in Yucatan, Mexico, next month.

It’s the fourth time in six years Hunt has taken the title. He said after wards: “I’m so happy. I’ve had one slip-up in Portugal but I’ll forget about that.

“It’s been a wicked year, and it’ll be a pleasure to dive in Mexico knowing the title is already secured.

“All the time I’ve been here I’ve been diving really well and then I missed my hardest dive in the second round today and I was kicking myself.

“When I was on the end of the platform for my last dive, I just told myself ‘imagine this is the last time you’ll ever get to do this dive’ and I was really happy with how it went.

“I have won the title before, and not being on top of the podium for that event, so it’s not quite perfect, but Artem’s not won one this year so I’ll let him have it!”

Hunt now has 910 points in the overall table, while second-placed Silchenko narrowly leads American Steven LoBue by 680 points to 660.