Video: British free-runner scales Eiffel Tower
A British free-runner has posted a spine-tingling video on YouTube that shows him scaling the Eiffel Tower in the dead of night and walking along the Iron Lady's thin iron beams way above the City of Light.
The video was uploaded to YouTube by free-runner James Kingston.
It had already garnered almost half a million views by Tuesday morning.
The video first shows Kingston climbing the famous Iron Lady in the dark of night, trying his best to avoid the numerous security guards who are on duty at the monument.
In a post on YouTube Kingston said: “The Eiffel Tower has been one of my goals for a while.
“We started the climb at 1am narrowly avoiding the patrolling security (which seemed more like the French army as they were in full camouflage and had massive guns) and wormed our way through what seemed like endless CCTV cameras.
“Once we reached about 20 meters up the side of the tower it appeared we'd made it through what would normally be the riskiest part of any climb. As far as I could tell, the tower was ours for the night.”
But after reaching the top level, he realized they have been spotted and they are forced to race down and hide “in a couple of holes inside the framework”.
Security guards searched high and low for them and even turned on the tower’s lights to help their search, but Kingston and his companion remained hidden.
The clip then shows him walking along the narrow iron beams high above Paris after the sun has come up. Needless to say, the views are spectacular if a little stomach-churning, as he dangles off the edge.
At one point Kingston rushes along the structure to hide as a lift makes its way to the top.
“After a few more hours playing around on the tower workers and tourists started coming up in the lifts.
“We were spotted again around 9AM so we climbed down and met with security. We were handcuffed & taken to the local police station where we were held and questioned for around six hours before being released without charges (I also had to promise them I wouldn't climb it again for 3 years).
“I can now officially tick the Eiffel Tower off my list.”
Kingston has made a name for himself climbing various structures around the world, including the Wembley arch in London, although that time he had permission to do it.
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The video was uploaded to YouTube by free-runner James Kingston.
It had already garnered almost half a million views by Tuesday morning.
The video first shows Kingston climbing the famous Iron Lady in the dark of night, trying his best to avoid the numerous security guards who are on duty at the monument.
In a post on YouTube Kingston said: “The Eiffel Tower has been one of my goals for a while.
“We started the climb at 1am narrowly avoiding the patrolling security (which seemed more like the French army as they were in full camouflage and had massive guns) and wormed our way through what seemed like endless CCTV cameras.
“Once we reached about 20 meters up the side of the tower it appeared we'd made it through what would normally be the riskiest part of any climb. As far as I could tell, the tower was ours for the night.”
But after reaching the top level, he realized they have been spotted and they are forced to race down and hide “in a couple of holes inside the framework”.
Security guards searched high and low for them and even turned on the tower’s lights to help their search, but Kingston and his companion remained hidden.
The clip then shows him walking along the narrow iron beams high above Paris after the sun has come up. Needless to say, the views are spectacular if a little stomach-churning, as he dangles off the edge.
At one point Kingston rushes along the structure to hide as a lift makes its way to the top.
“After a few more hours playing around on the tower workers and tourists started coming up in the lifts.
“We were spotted again around 9AM so we climbed down and met with security. We were handcuffed & taken to the local police station where we were held and questioned for around six hours before being released without charges (I also had to promise them I wouldn't climb it again for 3 years).
“I can now officially tick the Eiffel Tower off my list.”
Kingston has made a name for himself climbing various structures around the world, including the Wembley arch in London, although that time he had permission to do it.
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