French 'Spiderman' scales Paris skyscraper

PARIS - Agence France-Presse

AP photo

Security services looked on helplessly on March 21 as France's "Spiderman" Alain Robert, who holds a world record for urban climbing, scaled the Total skyscraper in Paris' La Defense business district.

Despite an icy wind the 53-year-old easily climbed --  bare-handed and without ropes -- up the 187-metre (614-feet) building in less than 45 minutes, delighting passers-by.
 
"I am happy because yesterday it was grey all day. Now it is cold, there will be wind, but at least it will not rain," Robert said before heading up the tower, which he has previously climbed.
 
The urban climber has scaled more than 100 structures without ropes or other safety equipment, setting a record for "most buildings climbed unassisted" according to Guinness World Records.
 
Nicknamed the "Spiderman", he has conquered many of the world's tallest skyscrapers and iconic buildings, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House, the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
 
While known for climbing with nothing but his bare hands and a bag of chalk, he used suction devices and a safety rope on the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, which had no hand or footholds.
 
As usual the location of his climb was kept secret until the last minute.
 
"I have never seen him in person, too bad for work," said Marie, 43, a Total employee.
 
"To me it is the symbol of freedom, it is his personal pleasure and no one can stop him."   Security officials stood by helplessly.
 
"What do you want us to do? We are less strong than him, we can't climb the facade," said the head of Total's building security.
 
Robert has suffered several severe falls while climbing and estimates his accidents have left him 66 percent disabled.
 
"Climbing is my passion, my philosophy of life. Although I suffer from vertigo, although my accidents left me disabled up to 66 percent, I have become the best solo climber," he wrote on his website.
 
Robert has been arrested numerous times for his exploits.