2 h. ago ‘It would take 11 seconds to hit the ground’: the roughneck daredevils who built the Empire State Building

They wrestled steel beams, hung off giant hooks and tossed red hot rivets – all while ‘strolling on the thin edge of nothingness’. Now the 3,000 unsung heroes who raised the famous skyscraper are finally being celebratedPoised on a steel cable a quarter of a mile above Manhattan, a weather-beaten man in work dungarees reaches up to tighten a bolt. Below, though you hardly dare to look down, lies the Hudson River, the sprawling cityscape of New York and the US itself, rolling out on to the far horizon. If you fell from this rarefied spot, it would take about 11 seconds to hit the ground.Captured by photographer Lewis Hine, The Sky Boy, as the image became known, encapsulated the daring and vigour of the men who built the Empire State Building, then the world’s tallest structure at 102 storeys and 1,250ft (381m) high. Like astronauts, they were going to places no man had gone before, testing the limits of human endurance, giving physical form to ideals of American puissance, “a land w...

Events

57 h. ago World's richest WAG worth incredible £500m and is married to Man United hero

The pair have since built an empire through their passions for fashion, business and sport

Economics

6 d. ago Crazy moment women's footballer throws rival to the ground by her NECK as furious fans hit out at 'WWE

Eagles star Ruesha Littlejohn was involved in a heated exchange with Leicester's Hannah Cain during the second half at the King Power on Sunday evening.

Sport

9 d. ago Wolves vs Crystal Palace Premier League prediction, odds and betting offer

New manager Rob Edwards will be looking to hit the ground running for Wolves but has a big task on his hands as they welcome Crystal Palace to Molineux in the Premier League

Politics

1 week ago Three Liverpool signings called out by club icon as Arne Slot decisions questioned

Liverpool have struggled in the Premier League this season with several of Arne Slot's summer signings failing to hit the ground running at Anfield

Society

1 week ago How Keith Andrews proved doubters wrong and hit ground running at Brentford

Andrews has refined good work done by Thomas Frank and made excellent start to season

Events

2 w. ago Germany boss takes aim at Liverpool with dig over Florian Writz problem

Florian Wirtz has struggled to hit the ground running at Liverpool following his £116million move from Bayer Leverkusen, with Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann offering his take on the situation

Politics

3 w. ago Liverpool's £125m headache proves two Manchester United players deserve far more credit

Alexander Isak has failed to hit the ground running at Liverpool having moved from a fellow Premier League club, but two Man United players are having no such trouble.

Sport

3 w. ago Succession star Sarah Snook's new thriller is the best show of the year

Not only does the plot of All Her Fault hit the ground running in the first 90 seconds, but it evolves into a tale of complex twistiness, insightfulness and unexpected ­emotional range.

Politics

3 w. ago Spurs news: Thomas Frank makes Bryan Mbeumo prediction as Tottenham prepare to face Man Utd

The forward has hit the ground running at his new club

Politics

3 w. ago Here’s when Zohran Mamdani will be sworn in, and what happens next

The mayor-elect has pledged to ‘hit the ground running’ from day one

Politics

3 w. ago Arsenal: Mikel Arteta hails 'massive' Max Dowman after teenager breaks Champions League record

Starlet has hit the ground running in the first-team fold

Sport