This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/8113757.stm

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Man climbs 200ft wheel attraction Man rescued from top of Big Wheel
(about 8 hours later)
A man has climbed onto the top of the Belfast Wheel. A man has been rescued after he climbed up the 60 metres high Belfast Wheel and balanced on top.
The 38-year-old scaled the 200ft structure shortly after 1830 BST on Monday. The 38-year-old, who was wearing nothing but shorts, scaled the outside of the wheel on Monday evening.
At about 2030 BST he left the top of the visitor attraction and made his way towards firefighters making their way up the wheel to rescue him. Roads around the city hall were closed and a large crowd gathered as emergency services arrived at the scene.
He then continued down the rest of the way. The man was subsequently arrested. Trained police negotiators were called in. After two and a half hours, a specialist team of firefighters climbed up and led the man to safety.
Deputy Fire Officer Louis Jones said it had been a "difficult rescue" and that when the crews arrived they had observed the man at "the top of the wheel holding on".Deputy Fire Officer Louis Jones said it had been a "difficult rescue" and that when the crews arrived they had observed the man at "the top of the wheel holding on".
There were people in the wheel's pods Emergency services outside the City Hall
"We deployed our specialist rescue team who are trained to climb structures such as this," he said."We deployed our specialist rescue team who are trained to climb structures such as this," he said.
"They climbed up and made contact with the individual."They climbed up and made contact with the individual.
"Thankfully it went well, but things like this are so dangerous they could equally have a tragic ending." "Thankfully, it went well, but things like this are so dangerous, they could equally have a tragic ending."
There had been people in some of the pods on the wheel, which was halted during the incident. A number of people were trapped inside some of the pods on the wheel during the safety operation.
Roads in the area were closed and a large crowd of people gathered to watch. In May, councillors at Belfast City Hall voted to keep the big wheel on site for two more years.
The wheel, which is situated in the grounds of Belfast City Hall, offers views across the city.
It is operated by World Tourist Attractions in association with NI's Department for Social Development.