Steve Hirst beats Brendan Fevola’s world record for NFL ball catch on Sunshine Coast

A Sunshine Coast media personality has toppled former Brisbane Lions star Brendan Fevola’s world record for the highest altitude catch of a football, tearing ligaments in his hand in the process. WATCH THE VIDEO.

A Sunshine Coast radio manager has beaten a world record held by AFL legend Brendan Fevola.

Steve Hirst suffered torn ligaments in his thumb and finger swelling on his journey into the history books by achieving the Guinness World Record for highest altitude catch of an American Football.

A helicopter flew to dizzying heights of more than 200m at Sunshine Coast Stadium at Birtinya on Thursday to drop the pigskin down to Mr Hirst, with the mammoth task taking place to raise money for the charity Inclusive Kids.

The previous record was held by Fevola, a former swashbuckling forward for the Carlton Blues and Brisbane Lions, who took out the top gong in late 2022. He caught an American football from a helicopter at an altitude of 221.89m.

Brendan Fevola previous held the world record.

Steve Hirst however beat it this week at Sunshine Coast Stadium. Picture: Contributed

Mr Hirst, who undertook several training runs at a farm west of Gympie in the lead up, had doubts in his mind after the first few hours on Thursday. He believed the ocean air gushing through the stadium altered the conditions he trained in.

“I was doubting myself a little bit,” Mr Hirst said.

“I gave myself a bit of an uppercut to do it mentally.”

It took three hours for Mr Hirst to achieve the record. Picture: Contributed

Mr Hirst with his team on the day. Picture: Contributed

Mr Hirst, Southern Cross Austereo radio manager and former Sunshine Coast Daily General Manager, said the training runs, where he actually caught one from a world record height albeit unofficially, were helpful.

He said the variance in the air made the task even more difficult, with the footballs reaching speeds of about 100km/h when they finally reached him.

What made it worst was NFL balls were made with tougher leather than AFL footies, causing the excruciating damage to his hand.

Finally, after three hours of attempts, Mr Hirst did the impossible and caught the footy from a whopping altitude of 227.4m, eclipsing Fevola’s previous record by 6m.

In the process, he raised more than $20,000 for underprivileged children who go to school without breakfast, food or essential items.

Mr Hirst said he believed what he raised would pay for about 8000 meals for these children.

He however hosed down a potential rivalry with the former AFL great and radio colleague, confessing he was actually a Carlton supporter.

This feat adds to his list of world records for Mr Hirst, who also held the current record for the world’s longest lawn mowing effort back in 2022.

Originally published as Steve Hirst beats Brendan Fevola’s world record for NFL ball catch on Sunshine Coast