The identity of the British climber who scaled the Eiffel Tower without a rope yesterday just hours before the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games has been revealed.
Louis Davis, a professional climber and stunt coordinator, was arrested on the second floor of Paris’ most famous landmark on Sunday afternoon after climbing the structure in temperatures of 32 degrees Celsius.
Poignant images captured the moment Davis climbed the iron beams, passing the Olympic rings emblazoned on the side of the tower as shocked officials turned tourists away from the monument.
A separate clip later showed Davis, shirtless and smiling, being led away by police as he joked: “It’s pretty hot, isn’t it?” after being arrested upon reaching the second viewing platform.
It is just the latest arrest following an incredible feat of skill and strength by Davis, who has previously scaled London’s famous ‘Cheesegrater’ building and has also worked with some of Hollywood’s finest including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Cruise.
But French authorities confirmed he now faces a charge of “endangering the lives of others” – an offence that carries a one-year prison sentence and a fine equivalent to £12,800.
There are now fears that Paris prosecutors could push for a harsh sentence after police were forced to divert vital resources to his arrest and evacuations from the Eiffel Tower on the day of the Olympic closing ceremony.
Louis Davis, a professional climber and stunt coordinator, was arrested on the second floor of Paris’ most famous landmark on Sunday afternoon.
Davis was seen just above the Olympic rings that adorn the second section of the monument.
The image shows Davis climbing one of the iron beams on his way to the Eiffel Tower.
Davis, who describes himself as a “fear and resilience obsessive,” has had an impressive career as a stunt performer, working with the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Vin Diesel and Tom Cruise.
Davis, who describes himself as a “fear and resilience obsessive,” has an impressive career as a stunt performer.
Some of Davis’ career highlights include working with actors Christian Bale and Heath Ledger in Christopher Nolan’s critically acclaimed Batman film, ‘Dark Knight,’ Vin Diesel from the Fast and Furious franchise, and fellow stunt enthusiast Tom Cruise in the blockbuster Mission: Impossible – Fallout.
Davis’ feat impressed tourists, who could be heard gasping as they watched his ascent, which took place just above the Olympic beach volleyball court.
But he never got the chance to complete his climb, such was the level of security surrounding the monument hours before the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.
More than 30,000 police officers were deployed in Paris and elsewhere on Sunday to ensure the closing ceremony went off without a hitch.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin confirmed that the Stade de France alone was being patrolled by 3,000 police officers, with thousands more surrounding the Eiffel Tower and the city centre.
Davis was spotted within minutes of beginning his ascent and then arrested by a specialist police unit deployed to the Tower when he reached the second observation deck.
The monument was evacuated as a precaution while police made the arrest.
“He was arrested at 2.45pm and handcuffed by police,” an investigative source told MailOnline.
‘He was heading to the second floor when he was stopped by police specialising in climbing.’
Davis, who describes himself as a “fear and resilience obsessive,” has an impressive career as a stunt performer, having appeared in a number of high-profile projects and hit films.
Some of his most notable work includes working with actors Christian Bale and Heath Ledger in Christopher Nolan’s critically acclaimed Batman film, ‘Dark Knight’, with Vin Diesel from the Fast and Furious franchise, and with fellow stunt enthusiast Tom Cruise in the blockbuster Mission: Impossible – Fallout.
Cruise himself demonstrated his passion for adrenaline-fuelled feats just hours after Davis’ attempt to scale the Eiffel Tower, when he performed a rope jump into the Stade de France in a Mission Impossible-style finale at the Paris 2024 Olympics last night.
Wearing a leather jacket and harness, the 62-year-old Hollywood star launched himself from the stadium’s roof, flew to the stage below and collected the Olympic flame before riding away on a motorbike.
The elaborate manoeuvre, watched live by some 70,000 spectators, was part of the handover of the Olympic flame from Paris to Los Angeles, which will host the games in 2028.
Davis is seen climbing the Eiffel Tower during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.
French police are moving people away from the tower as they deal with the incident.
Tom Cruise during the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at the Stade de France, Paris
Actor Tom Cruise descends from the stadium roof as part of the Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) award ceremony
Davis is seen standing atop London’s famous Cheesegrater building after a daring climb in September 2023.
Stunned office workers watched in disbelief as Davis boarded the Cheesegrater in London in September 2023.
Davis has also documented his various mental health issues and claims that these are what led him to develop a career in climbing and stunt work, where the physical challenge also became a vehicle for mental development.
‘My journey has not been without challenges.
“Diagnosed with ADHD, OCD and borderline personality disorder, I faced battles with bulimia, substance abuse, self-harm and suicide attempts,” she wrote on her personal website.
‘Through these struggles, I discovered that facing fear as a friend and embracing resilience could transform my life.
“This breakthrough led me to pursue climbing professionally,” he concludes, adding that overcoming his fears in this sport helped him “unlock his true potential” and combat his mental health problems.
Davis had already made headlines in September 2023 for his climb up London’s Leadenhall building, affectionately nicknamed the “Cheese Grater,” which measures a whopping 224 meters or 734 feet tall.
The climber made his ascent wearing only shoes, shorts and a chalk bag, with no safety equipment, harnesses or ropes in sight.
Surreal footage captured by shocked office workers and circulating on social media showed Davis slowly making his way along the metal grating wedged between the Cheesegrater’s glass facade.