High pod as Olympic flame goes for death-defying spin on London Eye

Amelia Hempleman-Adams, who became the youngest person to ski to the South Pole when aged 16, grinned from ear to ear as she held the flame on top of a capsule on board the giant wheel.

Illuminated by early morning sunshine, the 17-year-old daughter of adventurer David Hempleman-Adams held on tight as she raised the torch above the sleepy capital shortly after 8am.

And she kept a tight grip as she posed with the flame at a height much greater than nearby Big Ben.

The young explorer, who carried out her record-breaking expedition with her father last December, described holding the torch above the capital as a “once in a lifetime” opportunity.

The stunt was suggested to the teenager, who told the BBC: “I decided to see what I’d have to do, thought about it and decided to do it.

“It was amazing to look out and see the whole of London.”

Amelia, who has tickets for the athletics and diving events, added: “The height was quite scary but you know you’re safe so it’s not too bad.”

The flame was also carried
by former world heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis as it made its way through
the boroughs of Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Havering
and Bexley on day 65 of the
relay.

It began the day at Redbridge Cycling Centre, where the first torchbearer of the day, Luke
Benjafield, 20, from South Woodford, carried the flame through a corridor of cyclists from local clubs.