‘French Spider-Man’ charged after scaling Melbourne CBD high-rise

Police have arrested two men following a dangerous free solo climb up a 55-storey building in Melbourne’s CBD.

French national Anthony Andolfo, 29, was handcuffed and put into the back of a police vehicle following the high-risk climb early on Tuesday morning.

He was charged with reckless* conduct* endangering* life. The charge would seem to acknowledge Mr Andolfo put more than his own life at risk given the potential harm to pedestrians on the footpath below had he fallen.

A second man, Hugo Frohlinger, a 25-year-old French national, who was allegedly* filming the stunt on a drone near the scene, was also arrested and charged with public nuisance*.

Shock footage taken by bystanders shows a man climbing unassisted up the 55-storey building on the corner of A’Beckett and Elizabeth streets.

Firefighters and police were at the scene as the man began the ascent* about 7.10am on Tuesday.

Mr Andolfo, a French blogger known for performing extreme stunts, was able to reach the top without injury where police are believed to have apprehended* him.

A second friend, Lucas Uzzo, 25, was capturing the climb from the ground as Mr Andolfo scaled the front of the building along Little La Trobe St.

Mr Uzzo said Mr Andolfo was a free solo climber who had scaled about five buildings, on multiple continents, in the past. He also said he did not think the Frenchman had any heavy-duty climbing equipment or a parachute during his ascent.

“No parachute, nothing – only his hands and his feet,” Mr Uzzo said.

He said his friend had been arrested before for climbing buildings in France and Spain.

The pair are believed to have made their way to Australia two weeks ago to attempt the climb.

To prepare for the free solo, Mr Uzzo said his friend had been rock climbing for years, and that he had inspiration from a masked comic book superhero.

“He’s a French Spider-Man,” Mr Uzzo said.

The climber filmed and posted the climb to his Instagram account on the way up.

“Almost finished,” he said in French as he neared the top.

A Victoria Police spokesman said Mr Andolfo was arrested at the top of the building at 8.20am.

He was led out of the building in handcuffs just after 9am.

Residents, nearby workers and bystanders had mixed emotions.

Some shook their heads, calling the man an “idiot” for attempting a feat so dangerous to himself and others.

The pair faced the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday night, assisted by a French interpreter.

The court heard Mr Andolfo’s 12-month tourist working visa was due to expire on Wednesday.

They were both remanded*.

If found guilty, the charges against Mr Andolfo hold a maximum jail sentence of five years.

POLL

GLOSSARY

• reckless: foolhardy, thoughtless, heedless of consequences
• conduct: behaviour
• endangering: putting someone at risk, exposing to danger
• allegedly: reportedly, supposedly, used when something illegal or wrong is said to have been done, but has not yet been proved
• public nuisance: someone’s action endangered the life, health, property, morale or comfort of the public
• ascent: moving upwards, when someone or something rises up in the air, as in a climber or plane
• apprehended: arrested, taken into custody, captured
• remanded: held in custody

EXTRA READING

Aussie teen’s triumphant Everest trek

Girl, 10, youngest ever to climb El Capitan

At work with a Sydney Harbour Bridge climber

QUICK QUIZ

1. How many storeys did Anthony Andolfo allegedly climb?
2. Police later charged him with what crime?
3. Who else was charged by police and for what reason?
4. Where else has Mr Andolfo allegedly been arrested for climbing buildings?
5. The building he climbed is on what street in Melbourne’s CBD?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. What’s the problem?
Why are stunts like this against the law? Write down as many reasons as you can think of. Use information in the story to help you.

Time: allow at least 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Personal and Social Capability

2. Extension
“Kids News shouldn’t publish this story – it might encourage kids to try dangerous stunts!” Do you agree with this statement? Write a response to this statement. Your purpose is to be as convincing as possible.

Time: allow at least 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Personal and Social Capability

VCOP ACTIVITY
What happens next?
Imagine this story is begins a three-part series. The three stories tell the complete story and the content of this article is only Part 1. Think about what the rest of the story could be and write the next two parts to finish the story.

Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Critical and Creative Thinking