- Two lovebirds have been arrested after scaling the 1,454ft Empire State Building to get engaged in the skies
- The pair attracted hundreds of onlookers who gathered around the skyscraper to witness the lovely but daring proposal
- While witnesses described the scene as something straight out of a movie, police officers arrested the two as soon as they touched down
A couple known for their daring rooftop adventures have been arrested after scaling New York City’s iconic Empire State Building and appearing to get engaged hundreds of metres above the streets below.
Source: UGC
Russian climbers Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus sparked disbelief among onlookers after making their way to the antenna of the 1,454ft (443m) skyscraper in what authorities later described as an unauthorised stunt.
Dressed entirely in black and wearing face coverings, the pair were seen standing atop the famous landmark as they unfurled a banner bearing the message:
“When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.”
After spending several minutes on the antenna, the climbers descended to a lower section of the structure where one of them appeared to drop to one knee in a marriage proposal.
The emotional moment was followed by an embrace and a kiss, prompting cheers and astonishment from spectators watching from the streets below.
The pair are no strangers to breathtaking heights. Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus were featured in the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, which chronicled their relationship and passion for scaling some of the world’s tallest structures.
Police body camera footage later released showed officers confronting the couple near the top of the building. In the video, an officer can be heard telling them: “You can’t be up here.”
An off-camera voice then appears to respond: “We are engaged.”
The footage showed the pair calmly descending a ladder before speaking with officers. They did not appear to be wearing safety harnesses during the climb.
Authorities have not disclosed how the couple managed to gain access to the antenna, which sits far above the public observation decks of the 102-storey landmark.
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A spokesperson for the Empire State Building said the climb had not been authorised but stressed that it did not place anyone inside the building at risk.
For many witnesses, however, the spectacle felt more like a scene from a Hollywood film than a real-life incident.
“It’s crazy, it’s like being in the movies,” said onlooker Jonathan Roman as crowds gathered below to watch the drama unfold.
The Empire State Building has long attracted climbers seeking the ultimate adrenaline rush, although most such ascents have been carried out without permission.
One notable exception came in 2023 when actor and musician Jared Leto became the first person to legally scale part of the building.
The climb, authorised by the Empire State Building, saw Leto ascend from the 86th floor to the base of the antenna as part of a promotional campaign for the world tour of his band, 30 Seconds to Mars.
For Nikolau and Beerkus, what may have been intended as a romantic declaration of love ended with police intervention and arrest, but not before they created a moment that left New Yorkers staring skyward in amazement.
Source: NGBREAKINGNEWS
