'French Spiderman' climbs first skyscraper with son in Barcelona

BARCELONA, Oct 1 (Reuters) – Alain Robert, the free climber dubbed the “French Spiderman”, scaled certainly one of Barcelona’s highest skyscrapers on Saturday with no harness. And for the primary time ever, the well-known daredevil was joined by his son.

“This time is totally different. My son shouldn’t be a climber so I really feel accountable in some way,” Robert advised Reuters whereas making ready for the climb. “I do know he is an enormous boy, 34. It is his personal choice, however on the finish of the day I’m his dad.”

Bystanders and Spanish police watched because the 60-year-old and his son, Julien, climbed the 144-metre Torre Glories, previously the Torre Agbar, a glass-covered workplace constructing designed by architect Jean Nouvel and famed for its night-time illuminations.

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“I really feel very confused. I’ve by no means been so scared in my life,” Julien advised Reuters simply earlier than they began.

“I’ve completed scary issues in life, however that is… I’ve by no means been so afraid for my life. Fortuitously, I’ve my father who will discuss to me, will information me.”

French climber Alain Robert, often known as “The French Spiderman”, and his son Julien Robert climb a skyscraper Torre Agbar to unfold consciousness in direction of World Local weather Change in Barcelona, Spain October 1, 2022. REUTERS/Albert Gea

The pair accomplished the climb in lower than an hour and had been met on the prime by police, who escorted them down the extra conventional method – contained in the constructing – and didn’t arrest them.

Julien, who spent eight years within the military and is a eager sportsman, ready for his first climb by watching movies of his father’s earlier ascents.

Alain Robert started climbing in 1975, coaching on the cliffs close to his hometown of Valence in southern France.

He took up solo climbing in 1977, since when he has climbed greater than 150 buildings, together with Dubai’s Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest constructing – the Eiffel Tower, and San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.

Robert not often will get permission and climbs with no harness, utilizing solely his naked fingers, a pair of climbing footwear, and a bag of powdered chalk.