01/07/2026 18:35 - Internacionales
New York City witnessed a scene straight out of a movie on July 1, 2026, when two daredevils managed to climb to the very tip of the Empire State Building, one of the world's most iconic skyscrapers. The protagonists of this death-defying feat were identified as Ivan Beerkus, 32, and Angela Nikolau, 33, a Russian couple famous for scaling the world's tallest structures without any safety equipment.
According to CBS News and NBC News, the pair climbed to the building's antenna, located at 443 meters (1,454 feet), unfurled a banner with a peace message, and during their descent, what appeared to be a marriage proposal took place. The entire operation was unauthorized, forcing authorities to deploy police officers, firefighters, and an NYPD helicopter.
The banner they hung from the spire bore a powerful quote: "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." While often attributed to legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix, ABC7 Chicago notes the phrase was actually spoken by 19th-century British politician William Gladstone.
Aerial footage captured by news helicopters revealed that neither climber wore visible harnesses or safety systems, amplifying the danger of an already extremely risky stunt. The structure they scaled is part of the radio and television transmission tower for local broadcasters, adding radiofrequency and electrical hazards to the already perilous climb.
Ivan Beerkus is a Russian climber who calls himself a "rooftopper" and is famous for scaling some of the world's tallest buildings without harnesses or safety ropes. His online fame grew through videos of his ascents, most of them illegal, including skyscrapers, monuments, and construction cranes.
Angela Nikolau, also Russian and a former gymnast, is the daughter of circus artists and shares the same passion for heights. The couple met in 2016 in the rooftopping scene and have since traveled the world conquering urban summits.
The pair starred in the Netflix documentary "Skywalkers: A Love Story," which chronicles their relationship and their mission to climb Merdeka 118, a 680-meter building in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2022.
Shortly after 12:30 PM, the couple began descending the antenna's metal framework to a wider ledge. There, Beerkus knelt and handed a ring to Nikolau, who examined the jewelry while extending her hand. Minutes later, police officers who had climbed the spire intercepted them and took them into custody, just before 1:00 PM. Police sources confirmed that the detainees suffered no injuries and could face charges of criminal trespass and reckless endangerment.
John Cleary, former engineering chief at CBS News New York, warned about the dangers: "These guys are a little crazy. Going up and down that tower, especially in this heat, is very exhausting. It's easy to make mistakes. They didn't appear to have harnesses. There's a lot of radiofrequency and a lot of electrical energy in that tower."
This isn't the first time someone has ascended this part of the building. In 2023, actor and musician Jared Leto climbed from the 86th to the 104th floor to promote a Thirty Seconds to Mars tour, though in that case, he did so with authorization. The Empire State Building has 102 floors, and its observation deck is one of New York's top tourist attractions. Following the incident, visitors were evacuated.
Sources: Infobae, CBS News, NBC News, ABC7 Chicago, Associated Press, USA Today
Alfredo S. Quiroga
