A British woman has put hooks through her skin and suspended herself from a shop ceiling, in an extreme protest against cruelty to sharks.
The 26-year-old’s ghastly display was aimed at stopping the practice of finning, which involves slicing fins from sharks, and throwing them back while they’re still alive.
Spectators walking past the London shop watched in shock as blood trickled down Alice Newstead’s back, but the activist claims she wasn’t in any pain.
The 15 minute stunt took place in the window of Lush Cosmetics, on Regent Street, and was organised by the wildlife conservation charity, Sea Shepherd.
"I am doing this because the demand for shark fin soup and other shark products is wiping out the shark population," Newstead told AFP.
"Being hung from the chest is more painful than the back because it restricts your breathing, but as long as the piercer knows what they are doing then it is completely safe."
Lush Cosmetics, who are very public about their fight for animal rights, was also asking consumers to boycott restaurants that serve shark fin soup, and not to use shark cartilage supplements.
Photo: Sky News