Death-defying feat transmitted live on Netflix

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Climber Alex Honnold scales 101-floor skyscraper without safety gear

American climber Alex Honnold has successfully scaled a Taiwan skyscraper without a rope, harness or safety equipment.

The building, named Taipei 101 for the number of its floors, is 508m (1,667ft) tall, made of steel, glass and concrete and is designed to resemble a stick of bamboo.

Honnold is renowned for being the first person to climb El Capitan without ropes or safety gear. The 915m (3,000 foot) granite cliff is in California's Yosemite national park.

The climb was originally set to take place on Saturday but was delayed by wet weather. His ascent in Taiwan's capital was streamed live on Netflix, which said there was a delay on the live feed should the worst happen.

"We'll cut away," Netflix executive Jeff Gaspin told Variety magazine in the run-up to the event. "Nobody expects or wants to see anything like that to happen."

Honnold completed the climb in one hour and 31 minutes on Sunday - and celebrated the achievement with one word: "Sick."

His time more than halves the record of the only other person to scale the tower.

Alain Robert, a Frenchman who called himself "Spiderman", made it to the top of Taipei 101 - at the time the world's tallest building - in four hours. He did so with ropes and a harness.

Taiwan's Vice-President Hsiao Bi-khim congratulated Honnold, writing on X: "I admit I would probably feel sick, too, barely able to watch."

Honnold was greeted at the top of the building by his wife, who expressed concern for the wind and heat as he climbed.

But there was another distraction during his ascent. As Honnold reached the 89th floor, fans cheered and waved, face to face but for the window with the man clinging to the building.

Video of the moment was shared by Honnold and Netflix on Instagram, showing the climber continuing undeterred.

Honnold has made many extreme climbs during his career. A documentary about his ascent of El Capitan, titled Free Solo, won an Academy Award.

Source: BBC News 

Would you watch an event like this live? Why or why not?

What kind of risks are worth taking in life, in your opinion?



 


 

Comments

Sir Joseph said…
Hi Graham,

Would you watch an event like this live? It depends on the kind of event. For instance, if it´s a sports case I would like to watch it. I would enjoy watching it streamed live, in spite of the rick for reason of an accident. I´m always thinking that they are going to have success because I think that they have trained a lot of times.

When it´s about death-defying feat, like the rescue of people in a fire, I don´t like to watch it. I feel so much anxiety. I pass several days thinking in the rescue, whether or not it was successful.

What kind of risks are worth taking in life? In my opinión, the human being is compulsory to assume all risks which life brings to him. Kant, German philosopher, said: “I must, therefore I can”. That is, we have to do everything that life requires, without fear, although it was so dangerous. If you don´t do it, the human species will do that you obey and fulfill it. (As I told you human species is an independent and self sufficient being. She exists).

Generally speaking, it is worth:
Being yourself, free, independent without fear and doing what you consider that you must do it.
Changing the job or life to look for the meaning of life.
Running and walking that you can.

See you.
Saturday, 28 February, 2026
Graham said…
Good evening Joseph,

I wouldn't have watched this event streamed live online nor been one of those watching from the bottom of / inside the skyscraper. I wonder what would have happened if he had fallen. Would they have looked away or kept on recording it all on their mobiles? I suspect the latter.

I can't even watch a nature documentary when the whale is hunting seals or the lion is chasing a zebra. I know it is nature but I'd rather not be witness to it.

It depends on the kind of event. For instance, if it’s a sporting event, I would like to watch it. I would enjoy watching it streamed live, despite the risk of an accident. I always think they are going to succeed because I believe they have been training for a long time.

When it is a death-defying feat, like rescuing people from a fire, I don’t like to watch it. I feel a great deal of anxiety. I spend several days thinking about the rescue whether it was successful or not.

What kind of risks are worth taking in life?

In my opinion, human beings are obliged to face the risks that life brings. The German philosopher Kant said, “I must, therefore I can.” That means we have to do everything that life requires of us, without fear, even if it is dangerous. If you don’t do it, society will expect you to obey and fulfil your responsibilities. (As I told you, the human species is an independent and self sufficient being. It exists).

Generally speaking, it is worth:

Being yourself — free, independent, and without fear — and doing what you believe you must do.

Changing your job or your lifestyle to look for the meaning of life.

Running and walking as much as you can.
Monday, 02 March, 2026
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