Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub-Editor: Joana Mihajlovska, Agency: Newsflash
This is the moment a British daredevil climbs Barcelona’s Agbar Tower after being jailed for climbing The Shard in London last year where the idea came to him in his cell.
George King, 21, took on the challenge after being sentenced to 24 weeks in jail by the Royal Court of Justice in London in October 2019 after building management complained about him climbing The Shard.
He free-climbed the UK’s tallest building without ropes or suction pads in July and said that he dreamed about climbing the Agbar Tower while he was in prison.
The 38-story building was opened to mark the gateway to the new technology district in the city of Barcelona in the Spanish region of Catalonia.
When emergency services were notified about the climb, they rushed to the scene but it was too late to do anything other than wait for the Brit to return to ground level.
In total, two fire crews and officers from the Urban Guard and Mossos d’Esquadra (Catalan Police) were called to the scene.
King said: “It is a beautiful building, when I saw it I knew I had to climb it. When I reached the top, I was euphoric. I felt fully alive.”
He admitted he knew it was illegal, but said it was not like he stole anything, adding that other people have climbed the tower without safety equipment including Leo Urban who scaled it barefoot.
King told Newsflash: “The ascent was way harder than the descent as the only place to climb from the bottom was on the face where the panels where practically closed, creating far less possibility for resting spots.
“I’m happy to have ticked this one off. I’ve dreamed of doing this since prison. The climb down was a bit more like a ladder and I managed to submit to the moment and I just felt true peace. It was quite sad when I reached the bottom. I wanted to do it again.
“Despite doing feats which are eccentric and dramatic, it doesn’t make me super talented or a fearless f**king Spider-Man. I’m terrified, but I know how to get a grip of my mind and fear. I’m not talented, but I train and prepare f**king hard.
“I am 21 years old and on my own mission. Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. Obsession is the key, not talent.
“When I was in prison last year for climbing The Shard in London, I became obsessed with doing a redemption climb. It so happened that my redemption climb was Agbar Tower and so that is why I climbed it.
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