It looks like the helicopter is soaring through the air mere inches from the erupting Piton de la Fournaise, on Reunion Island
Some like it hot - including the fearless pilot flying this helicopter as it was snapped soaring over an erupting volcano.
The shots, which show the lava erupting perilously close to the helicopter's cockpit, were taken above the Piton de la Fournaise, on Reunion Island.
Lionel Ghighi, who lives on the island - a French department in the Indian Ocean - risked his own safety to snap the magnificent pictures.
The daredevil photographer captured the images while attached to a harness dangling from another helicopter - and could even feel the heat of the lava.
He says the conditions allowed him to get a clear view of the helicopter.
Lionel said: "The view was amazing and it looked like the lava was erupting just inches away from where the helicopter was flying.
"It was so hot, you could feel the heat in your face the entire time.
"The entire shot took a lot of concentration as one wrong move and the helicopter – or even myself – could have ended up dead.
"It's dangerous, of course, but that's why I like doing it.
"I was attached to a harness in the helicopter that I was shooting out of."
Volcano erupts spewing 6,500ft high column of ash into the sky:
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(Source: Mirror)
