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A couple who climbed to the top of New York City's iconic Empire State Building ended their daring stunt with an engagement, and an arrest.
The pair scaled the building's 1,454-foot spire on Wednesday before unfurling a large banner that read, "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace."
They remained at the top for around 10 minutes, drawing the attention of people below and prompting a police response.
After climbing down to a lower platform beneath the antenna, the man dropped to one knee and proposed. The woman accepted before the couple embraced and kissed while still high above the city.
The two were later taken into custody by the New York Police Department after making their way back down. Authorities said charges are pending and the investigation remains ongoing. No injuries were reported.
The couple have since been identified as Russian rooftoppers Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Beerkus, 32, who are well known for scaling skyscrapers around the world and documenting their climbs on social media.
Photos shared on Instagram after the stunt showed the proposal, including a close-up of the engagement ring and the moment Beerkus got down on one knee.
An Instagram Story posted from Nikolau's account while the climb was taking place read, "Currently at the Empire State Building, you can watch on the city webcam."
Nikolau and Beerkus previously appeared in the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, which followed their lives as urban climbers and their relationship.
Police officers eventually climbed the spire and met the pair before taking them into custody shortly before 1 p.m.
Exactly how the couple managed to access and climb the top of one of the world's most recognisable skyscrapers has not been revealed.
