World Trade Centre on September 11

A photographer has sparked outrage in the United States by throwing himself from the roof of a museum to recreate scenes from the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Kerry Skarbakka was forced to apologise to the families of World Trade Centre victims after the stunt triggered an enormous backlash.

New York Governor George Pataki described the so-called art project, Life Goes On, as despicable.

"It's an utter disgrace that someone would try to turn horrible human suffering and tragedy into an act,'' he told the New York Daily News.

	George Pataki

Mayor Michael Bloomberg called it "nauseatingly offensive''.

Skarbakka, 34, jumped several times from the roof of a Chicago museum wearing a safety harness.

Photographs of his fall were to be retouched to erase the pulleys and wires that kept him from hitting the pavement.

Terrifying images of workers falling to their deaths from the Twin Towers were beamed around the world on September 11, 2001.

Skarbakka said he was so distraught by the pictures he had to find an artistic response.

But the artist, who lives in New York, was soon forced to apologise when those who lost families and friends expressed their disgust.

"I am extremely, extremely sorry for the families of the victims that have been hurt by this,'' he said.

AOL news reports accessed 17-06-2005