Love reached dizzying heights for Russian daredevils Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus after their breathtaking marriage proposal atop New York City’s iconic Empire State Building went viral before ending in their arrest.
Nikolau, 33, and Beerkus, 32, made headlines after scaling the 1,454-foot skyscraper and staging a death-defying proposal on top of its spire, a feat that was broadcast live on U.S. television.
Photos shared by Nikolau on Instagram captured the daring moment as Beerkus got down on one knee on the skyscraper’s summit. The images also showed the engagement ring and a banner the couple unfurled that read: “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.”
The couple reportedly remained atop the spire for around 10 minutes, sealing the proposal with a kiss before eventually responding to repeated calls from members of the New York Police Department (NYPD) to climb down safely.
The stunt caused authorities to temporarily close roads surrounding the Empire State Building and suspend public tours of the landmark while emergency responders monitored the situation.
Their daring act, however, came with legal consequences.
According to reports, the Russian couple was arrested by the NYPD and charged with burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal tampering, criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct. They are currently in police custody.
Nikolau and Beerkus have since built a global following by scaling some of the world’s tallest buildings, documenting their adventures on social media and even getting featured in the 2024 Netflix documentary “Skywalkers: A Love Story”, which chronicled both their extraordinary relationship and daredevil pursuits.
