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Saturday, 1 December 2007, 03:31 GMT

In Pictures: Evel Knievel

Evel Knievel as seen in 1977 in Warner Bros ''Viva Knievel!' (AP Photo/Warner Bros)

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Legendary American stuntman and daredevil Evel Knievel has died at the age of 69.

Evel Knievel jumps over trucks in Cleveland, USA (28/05/1974)

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Born Robert Craig Knievel Jnr in 1938, he achieved cult status for his death-defying tricks and jumps on his motorbike.

Evel Knievel jumps the fountains at Caesars Palace (31/12/1967)

Evel Knievel jumps the fountains at Caesars Palace (31/12/1967)

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He spent almost a month in a coma after a 1967 attempt to jump the famous Caesars Palace fountains in Las Vegas went wrong, but it won him huge media fame.

Evel Knievel sitting in his rocket before the stunt.

Evel Knievel sitting in his rocket before the stunt.

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As his fame increased so did the size of the stunts and in 1974 he attempted to cross Snake River Canyon in Idaho on a rocket-powered bike.

Evel Knievel descends by parachute after the failed attempt

Evel Knievel descends by parachute after the failed attempt

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The stunt failed when his parachute opened too early, but he escaped with minor injuries.

Knievel jumps a row of 13 buses in London's Wembley Stadium (26/05/1975)

Knievel jumps a row of 13 buses in London's Wembley Stadium (26/05/1975)

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Other stunts did not end so well, such as his 1975 attempt to clear 16 buses lined up at London's Wembley Stadium.

Evel Knievel is helped away from his crash landing in Wembley Stadium (26/05/1975)

Evel Knievel is helped away from his crash landing in Wembley Stadium (26/05/1975)

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He jumped over all the buses but crashed on landing, breaking several bones, and immediately announced his retirement.

Evel Knievel with his son Robbie Knievel (14/04/1989)

Evel Knievel with his son Robbie Knievel (14/04/1989)

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Knievel's son Robbie also became a stuntman, breaking some of his father's motorbike jump records and successfully jumping the Grand Canyon in 1998.

Evel Knievel and Krystal Kennedy in front of the fountains at Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on their wedding day (19/11/1999)

Evel Knievel and Krystal Kennedy in front of the fountains at Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on their wedding day (19/11/1999)

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Evel Knievel had four children and married his second wife, Krystal Kennedy in 1999, in front of the Las Vegas fountains where he had crashed over 30 years before.

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Related to this story:
US daredevil Evel Knievel dies (30 Nov 07 | Americas )