Newcomer in 'the most epic selfie' movement

The quest to take the most epic selfie photo ever has just gone up another level after a British photographer took a picture of himself on top of Rio's Christ the Redeemer's head.

Naturally, the photo immediately went viral for it's breathtaking vantage point and uniqueness.

Although it seems that Lee Thompson, the daring Brit, stands atop of the statue with no safety gear at all, he had actually climbed the statue safely from inside, simply climbing the steps that workers use for monument maintenance.

'When I arrived at the foot of the ... statue and saw the platform awash with a sea of tourists, the gravity of what I was about to experience hit me and the butterflies in my stomach went nuts. As I popped my head out of the hole in Jesus’ crown, I was in total and utter awe as my eyes met with a vast panorama that quite literally took my breath away,' wrote Thompson on a blog post.

The Brit photographer is in Brazil to document the ongoing preparations for the nearing World Cup. He convinced the tourism board to give him a permit to climb the famous statue which is 38 meters tall.

Currently, the Christ the Redeemer statue is undergoing repairs after a thunderstorm chipped off it's thumb in January.

'To some, taking pictures of yourself is considered vain, but this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity taught me that the selfie is a powerful medium through which we can share our perspectives, inspirations and personal stories with the world at large. It’s not about funny mugshots with scenic backdrops or daredevil stunts. It’s a way to mark the moment and say, 'I was here', said Thompson.