But his motor-driven parachute became snagged on the torch and he was left dangling for about 45 minutes before managing to haul himself up by the parachute's ropes with the help of rescue workers.

"We got him up inch by inch, we got him to the top and we got him into the torch," said New York police officer Christopher Ballou, who was involved in the rescue.

New York City police, who were present at the scene, said the stuntman had intended to land somewhere on Liberty Island, carrying a sign protesting against the use of land mines.

It was not immediately clear whether he had hoped to land on the statue itself or on the ground.

He told several media outlets that he wanted to bungee jump off the torch.

Stuntman arrested

After the rescue he was handcuffed and taken into custody.

The paraglider dangling from the statue's torch

If convicted, he faces a prison sentence of up to six months.

"Terry Do tried to perform this act and not only did he put himself in danger, the lives of the cops in danger, he also put the lives of innocent people near the statue in danger as well," New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik said at a news conference.

The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of political freedom and democracy famous throughout the world.

It was given as a gift to the United States by France in 1886, and was designated a national monument in 1924.

It is so far unclear whether any damage had been done to it.