'Spiderman' begins Burj tower ascent

[Bosonic]

Source: AFP

French climber famous for his gravity-defying ascents expects to scale world's tallest tower in less than seven hours.

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net//news/middleeast/2011/03/2011328165718456434.html

[Ian David]

1. Well, they have an ambulance standing by.

But if he falls, all they really need is a giant spatula and a hose.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Hope he got a parachute just in case

For comparison :

WORLD RECORD BASE JUMP BURJ KHALIFA : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGD7xX960PQ

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. oops.. Dupe

Source: Al Jazeera

A skyscraper climber who calls himself "Spiderman" has begun to climb the side of the world's tallest tower in Dubai.

Before he began his climb up the 828m Burj Khalifa on Monday, Frenchman Alain Robert said he expected the climb to take about six or seven hours.

As night fell, a row of powerful spotlights shone on the side of the tower as he climbed. Unlike on many previous climbs, the 48-year-old climber is using a rope and harness to comply with organisers' requirements.

An ambulance, with a stretcher at the ready, was parked alongside other emergency vehicles at the Burj's base.

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net//news/middleeast/2011/03/2011328165718456434.html

[Deep13]

4. I think after the first 150 feet or so, they can send away the ambulance. nt

[closeupready]

5. Idiot.

I hope they charge him with trespassing, and reckless endangerment.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Dogtown]

7. If I understand the OP correctly

this was a sponsered event.

Entertainment. For our New Babylon, this isn't outrageous.

[Matt_in_STL]

8. You may want to read the article again

"Organisers" suggests that this was planned and approved, most notably by the fact that he is required to wear safety gear, which he normally does not. Spotlights and an ambulance on hand also lend credibility to the fact that this is all approved.

[closeupready]

10. Well, okay, if he's got approval, who cares, but

I'm reminded of that incident last year where the female rock-climbing college student died after falling due to her refusal to use harnesses while climbing. I am not making that up, I will find the article.

[Dogtown]

11. Again.

The OP states this climber was harnessed, per event organizers' demand.



It's just a publicity stunt for Cheneyworld.

Not worth fretting about.

[toonces_2]

9. Blessed

If he's being belayed from the roof and using their spotlights, I'm betting he has their blessings. It's got to be boring, however, doing the same move over and over all the way up.

[Thor_MN]

12. He better hope to hell he doesn't get charged with theft....