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Subscribe to RSSNotice that, unlike in his past, illegal scaling of buildings in places from Paris to Sydney and Hong Kong, the French 'Spiderman' is using a rope and harness to climb this mammoth 2,717 foot-tall skyscraper, and the event is actually being organized by the tower's owner, who has an ambulance and stretcher at the ready.
Ali Haider / EPA
Women take photos of French climber Alain Robert, nicknamed 'Spiderman', as he makes his way up the world's tallest tower of Burj Khalifa in the Gulf Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on March 28. Alain Robert, the 48-years-old climber, started his climb up the 828 metre high tower, expecting to take about six or seven hours to complete. Robert has been climbing since he was 12 years-old and to date has climbed over 120 buildings.
What do you think - does having the event organized and safety measures put in place an obvious no-brainer, or does it make this feat too promotional and less daring? Read the full story here.
Kamran Jebreili / AP
French Spider man Alain Robert climbs up Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on March 28. Just before sunset Monday, a French skyscraper climber who calls himself "Spiderman" started to pull his way up the side of the world's tallest tower in Dubai.
Karim Sahib / AFP - Getty Images
French climber Alain Robert scales the 828 meter World's tallest tower Burj Khalifa in Dubai on March 28. French 'Spiderman' Robert is world famous for illegally climbing tall buildings across the world.
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An ambulance, and stretcher? Perhaps a 3 gallon size double zip lock bag might be more appropriate?
Ivan Drago: If he dies.....he dies.
@Doug, more than likely it would be something like the guy falling but being caught by his safety harness (which it mentions he is using). So we're talking broken bones and a very tricky rescue. Having that zip lock bag wouldn't be a bad idea though.
Doug 1207714 you beat me to it
That first step is a pisser
US51480695,
It's not so much the first step that's a pisser, but the last inch that's a Bitch!!!!!
The fall wont hurt him but that sudden stop.OUCH!
Mommy I got a BOO Boo
A safety harness?? Yeah, I guess that's OK if you want to do it the BABY way. *yawn*
The man has nuts!!!!
The man IS nuts!
Moshuluu,
I think his nuts are hooked to the building via that harness. Actually did you mean the man has nuts or IS nuts?
Bounce or splat?
my palms are sweating just looking at the photos
I was there a couple months ago, that building is tall as @!$%#e!
wooptdy do... i could train for a year and attempt this exact same thing if there is a harness involved! thats honestly not saying too much. i wanna see this guy try it with no harness and suceed or hit the ground trying. THAT would be NEWS. have a great day ya'll.
The real story here is how western nations alway's want to arrest him. and the new "Power Brokers" made with american Oil money promote it. ie UAE. they owe the US for saving their ass. as does the arab world.
his use of the harness doesn't diminish the feat. the support he received from the owner is risky for the owner but who cares about them? i'm waiting for his movie to come out based on his best-seller?
I'm sure his wife and child are both happy that he's using safety this time.
For those unfamiliar with rock climbing techniques, in this instance, Mr.Robert is completely safe (barring a VERY unlikely equipment failure). He is doing what we call "top roping", where the climber is "belayed" by a rope running through an anchor at the top of the climb. As he climbs, slack in the rope is run through a friction device. If he loses his footing or grip (highly unlikely, given his skill level), the rope would prevent him from falling more than a few feet, or perhaps 10 or 20 due to rope stretch with this long of a rope. He might skin his knee on a window ledge, or perhaps twist an ankle. Yes, his exposure is impressive, on par with some impressive natural rock routes on El Capitan in Yosemite. But he is safer than you standing on a chair to change a lightbulb.
An ambulance, and stretcher? a razor blade and a bucket would be more use.