This is the heart-stopping moment two boys play on the roof of a high-rise apartment block in China as one of them repeatedly jumps from one ledge to another with nothing but a sheer drop below him.

The incident was filmed at an apartment building in the city of Xianning in the Chinese province of Hubei on 24th October, with local media reporting on the footage this week. Differing Chinese reports said the building was 20 or 22 storeys tall.

The cameraperson, named as Mr Yin, said his heart nearly stopped while filming the two boys apparently risking their lives on the roof.

Mr Yin immediately notified staff members at the building who went to stop to the roof to stop the boys playing their daredevil game.

In the footage, Mr Yin is seen showing the full height of the building before zooming in on two boys playing on a ledge on the building roof.

The older boy in a purple top jumps from one ledge to the other with nothing but a sheer drop below him.

The smaller boy in an orange top, possibly a younger brother, is seen walking to the edge to apparently consider jumping himself, but quickly turns away.

The older boy jumps across and then repeats the daring stunt before Mr Yin zooms out and shows the dizzying height of the building again.

It is unclear if the local authorities are investigating the incident.