Adam Lockwood, a fearless free climber from Manchester, took on an extraordinary challenge when he decided to scale one of the tallest towers in the world. What began as a daring feat quickly turned into a precarious ordeal when he realized the structure was coated in grease, significantly increasing the risk of his stunt. His adventure, shared on his YouTube channel Nuisance, captivated over 15,000 subscribers, leaving viewers amazed and terrified.
Lockwood’s climb took place at the 77-story Il Primo residential skyscraper in Dubai, situated near the iconic Burj Khalifa. This wasn’t just any climb—it required quick thinking, resourcefulness, and a tolerance for danger few could match. The ascent began with a nerve-wracking infiltration, as security guards initially blocked him from accessing the building. Refusing to give up, Lockwood used Google Translate to convince one of the guards that he was a worker retrieving forgotten tools.
“He showed me the stairs, watched me walk down a floor, and then left,” Lockwood recalled. “I switched stairwells and kept going up. My bluff worked.”
While his clever ploy got him inside, the challenges didn’t end there. Workers were stationed on nearly every floor, forcing him to navigate multiple stairwells over the course of two intense hours. With each step, the thrill of the climb was matched by the ever-present risk of being caught.
Once he reached the top, another hurdle presented itself. Lockwood had brought only a single GoPro battery, which was almost drained by the time he reached the crane. This left him with only minutes to capture the climb on camera, adding another layer of pressure to his already dangerous endeavor.
Standing atop the structure, Lockwood faced a jaw-dropping view and an even greater challenge. The crane’s bars, which he initially mistook for being dusty from the desert environment, were coated in grease. This unexpected twist transformed the climb into a hazardous balancing act. Lockwood had to navigate the slippery surfaces with extreme caution, as any misstep could have been fatal.
Despite the treacherous conditions, he performed a series of awe-inspiring stunts. Dangling hundreds of meters above the ground, he hung by one hand and even suspended himself upside down by his legs. His focus and composure during these heart-stopping moments were remarkable.
“Hanging off things doesn’t feel like much,” he later reflected. “It’s surreal to be that high up with no safety, but my mind stays blank, my heartbeat doesn’t rise, and it feels almost peaceful.”
After completing the stunts, Lockwood faced the daunting task of descending without attracting attention. To blend in, he donned a hard hat and moved among the workers as though he belonged there. This strategy allowed him to slip away undetected. The climb left him physically exhausted, and he spent the following day recovering. However, the sense of accomplishment was undeniable.
“When I watched the footage, I thought, ‘This is it—this is the most incredible thing I’ve ever done,’” he said. “To hang off the tallest crane in Dubai, right next to the world’s tallest building, is something truly special.”
Lockwood also expressed a sense of duty tied to his unique skills: “This is something I can do that 99 percent of the world can’t and never will. I feel obligated to use my abilities and enjoy the process.”
His video, which documents every thrilling and nerve-wracking moment, continues to draw attention online, with viewers marveling at his bravery and skill.