A bet by a German man has led him to water-ski behind a German cruise liner, after having argued that it would be theoretically possible to do so.

With the stunt being recorded by a German television crew, reporter Dirk Gion, 40, took up the challenge "to prove it could be done", according to Ananova.com.

Gion was pulled by the correct velocity by a speedboat and then switched over to a line pulled by 575 foot cruiser MS Deutschland.

Gion managed to stay above the water behind the large vessel for about five minutes.