Russian Climbers Arrested After Empire State Proposal
Russian base jumpers Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus were arrested after scaling the Empire State Building on July 3 and proposing at the 443-meter summit. The unauthorized stunt resulted in multiple charges including trespassing and reckle
Two renowned Russian base jumpers created an online sensation on July 3 when Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus scaled the 443-meter Empire State Building in New York City. The male climber proposed at the summit, where the couple displayed a banner stating "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace" and kissed with Manhattan's skyline as their backdrop.
New York police revealed both were detained after spending at least 10 minutes atop the building and faced multiple charges including trespassing, reckless endangerment, property damage, unauthorized area access, and disorderly conduct. The building's spokesman confirmed the stunt was unauthorized but did not affect tenants or observation deck visitors.
According to initial reports, the couple accessed the 103rd floor through a restricted water tank maintenance area. It remains unclear exactly how they traveled from the 102nd to 103rd floor before descending from a 60-meter telecommunications tower towering above the building.
During their descent, the male climber proposed on one knee. Both embraced and kissed before sharing images and videos on social media. Police also released bodycam footage showing officers climbing stairs to negotiate, asking what language they spoke. The woman responded in Russian.
The incident garnered widespread attention partly because both are renowned climbers and subjects of the documentary "Skywalkers: A Love Story," which chronicles their love story and adventures on skyscrapers worldwide.
