Diving for Dalai Lama

Tibet expected every man to do his duty, and Gary Connery complied yesterday by plummeting 170ft from the top of Nelson's column.

The stuntman's parachute opened seconds before he hit the ground in Trafalgar Square, where he was arrested by startled police officers. He was one of four protesters who had scaled the London landmark without harnesses to unveil a 50ft banner of the Dalai Lama, highlighting the Chinese occupation of the country.

"Governments don't put real political commitment behind the Dalai Lama," said Isabel Losada from organisers Act For Tibet.

"If there is an international war on terror then surely we need to reward and support non-violence."

Mr Connery, 33, said he had been terrified at the prospect of the leap, but had been determined to support the cause.

"From a selfish point of view I wanted to do it because the opportunity was there," he admitted. "It has never been done before."

All four were cautioned for displaying a picture and taking part in a "performance" without licence.