One wrong move and we risk death’, the couple who fell in love while climbing skyscrapers

ANGELA Nikolau, 31, is a homeless person living with her boyfriend, Ivan Beerkus, 30, in Moscow, Russia.

“As we reached the top of the spire of Merdeka 118, the world’s second tallest skyscraper, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, my friend Ivan stepped onto the flimsy scaffolding we had with us, above the 2,227-foot sheer drop.

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He then lifted me by my waist above his head, while a drone captured this death-defying stunt.

It was December 2022 and after 10 weeks of intensive training, Ivan and I were pushing the boundaries of ‘rooftopping’, where extreme climbers scale buildings and cranes without safety harnesses.

One wrong move and we risked certain death.

Growing up as the daughter of circus performers, I knew I wouldn’t have an average life.

I started gymnastics when I was seven and had a natural talent, and as I got older I started competing.

At the age of 16, I tried to climb onto the roof. After watching videos on Instagram, the excitement appealed to me. I started posting photos of myself doing gymnastics on the most dangerous roofs of Moscow.

I quickly gained respect in a world usually dominated by men.

Not wanting to worry my family, I kept it a secret – until my grandma saw me on the news!

Although she was concerned for my safety, she knew that no one could stop me.

In 2017, Ivan contacted me and asked me to climb the tallest construction site in the world with him: a crane in Tianjin, China.

He was more famous than me at the time, but we got along well and enjoyed climbing together.

In Paris we were chased by the police.

I was caught and although Ivan could have escaped, he also allowed himself to be arrested.

Within a few months we fell in love and posted on Instagram: ‘We found love and elevation’, with a photo of us kissing on the roof.

‘Some low points’

We went viral and got a million followers.

After that we traveled the world and called our combination of rooftopping and acrobatics ‘skywalking’.

We made money doing stunts for sponsors and selling our photos. A production company followed us with the idea of ​​making a documentary. We pushed ourselves and each other to the limit.

There were also low points: for example, I once broke my hand when I slipped while running from security, and I had panic attacks when I froze halfway up the climb, which was terrifying.

When the pandemic put a stop to travel, our sponsorship income dried up and I turned my focus to content creation.

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When traveling was allowed again, I was happy with my steady income and didn’t want to stand on the roof anymore, because that put a strain on our relationship.

Then Ivan told me that Merdeka 118 was almost finished. I had always wanted to climb it and that rekindled my passion.

With the last money we had, we bought a flight to Malaysia.

After we got past the guards, we had to hide in a small room from the construction workers for 30 hours, exhausted and dehydrated.

We reached the spire, but I didn’t think I could complete the 90-minute climb with a backpack that weighed half my body weight, as Ivan had to carry the scaffolding we had to stand on.

Although every climb we do is still dangerous, I wouldn’t change my life with Ivan for anything

But thanks to his encouragement, we both reached the top.

It was breathtaking, but the sight of the descent left my legs shaking and I started to panic that we were going to fail at the last moment.

When Ivan lifted me up into the air, I felt calm. I saw Kuala Lumpur from a viewpoint that no one had seen before.

Together we had done something that no one had thought possible.

When we left the tower, we felt relieved. After flying back home, we posted our footage online. It was viewed 8.6 million times, and we were back in the spotlight.

People do need to be aware of the risks: almost all my old roofers have died or been seriously injured.

Although it is annoying, I have to accept it. And it is not something I can think about when I am standing on a building.

But even though every climb we make is still dangerous, I wouldn’t change my life with Ivan for the world.”

• Follow Angela @angela_nikolau. Skywalkers: A Love Story is on Netflix on Friday.

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