Thrilla in Manila! Skyscraper climber dubbed ‘the French Spider-Man’ conquers 712ft GT Tower in Phillippines capital with no safety gear – before being arrested by police on the ground
- Alain Robert, 56, scaled the 47-storey glass structure with his bare hands this morning in the capital city
- Daredevil was seen dangling several stories above rush hour traffic as crowds gathered to marvel at him
- He has world record for most buildings climbed and feats include Dubai’s 2,717ft Burj Khalifa and Eiffel Tower
Advertisement
‘The French Spider-Man’ has conquered another skyscraper with no safety gear – this time a tower in the Phillippines.
Alain Robert, whose feats have included climbing Dubai’s 2,717ft (828m) Burj Khalifa and the Eiffel Tower, tackled the GT International Tower Makati in Manila this morning.
The 56-year-old daredevil was seen dangling several stories above rush hour traffic as he made his way up the 712ft (217m) structure in nerve-shredding footage.
The French Spider-Man Alain Robert hoists himself from one ledge to another as he conquers the GT Tower in Manila, the Phillippines, this morning
The urban climber shows incredible strength and athleticism to drag his body up the structure gripping thin, slippery ledges
The 56-year-old daredevil was seen dangling several stories above rush hour traffic as he made his way up the side of the 712ft (217m) structure
The illegal ascent of the 47 stories tower was with no safety gear, without a rope and with bare hands. Here his hands are covered in chalk to help him grip the slippery ledges
The illegal ascent of the 47 stories tower was with no safety gear, without a rope and with bare hands.
The Frenchman was seen descending from the all-glass structure shortly before 12pm and was arrested by police when he got to the bottom.
Officers local media the stuntman may be charged for breaking city ordinances.
Mr Robert is in prime condition – he is 5ft 5in and weighs about 7st 12lb (50kg), with a low fat ratio of bones to muscle which helps his extreme athleticism and skill.
Don’t look down! The fearless climber – who holds the world record for buildings scaled – waves as crowds gather beneath him to watch his stunt
Hundreds of people on their way to work in the capital city to watch the ‘Human Spider’ conquer the 47-storey tower
Workers stop what they’re doing and film Mr Robert after he appeared at their window several hundred feet in the sky on his way up the structure
As with other unlawful climbs, he is as ‘always’ carrying his passport in a chalk bag ‘because it is very reassuring for the authorities’ when he is arrested.
Chalk slightly improves the friction between his skin and the building but he also tapes his fingers and wears wafer-thin gloves to try to stop them being shredded by the ‘aggressive’ building.
The ‘Human Spider’ has been climbing buildings since he was 11 and was recognised by the Guinness World Records for ‘most buildings climbed’ after scaling 121 structures in 2015.
He said his lifestyle ‘isn’t easy’ for him or his family and there are many members of the public worldwide who condemn him.
The Jumping Spider! Robert leaps onto a fireman’s inflatable chute after descending from the building – as police wait to arrest him on the ground
The 56-year-old – armed with his bag of chalk to grip onto ledges – is all smiles despite being arrested by officers at the foot of the tower
The climber waves to fans as he’s loaded into the back of a police car and taken the station in Manila shortly after noon
Speaking after a climb in London last year, he said: ‘It is never easy for family having a dad who is doing that kind of stuff but they are used to it. They never asked me to change my lifestyle.
‘They trust me. They think I am capable to succeed each time I am doing something, but at the end of the day it is still a bit scary for sure. They are proud.’ If you knew the number of people who are happy to meet me.
‘For most of the people I am an inspiring person. I am receiving a lot of messages saying I am such a legend.’