Better signal up there? Man scales Eros statue in the middle of London’s Piccadilly Circus and starts scrolling through his phone
- Did you see what happened? Email chris.matthews@mailonline.co.uk
This is the moment a man climbed a statue in Piccadilly Circus and started scrolling through his phone.
Bystanders were surprised to see a bald, bearded man in jeans and a gray jacket climbing the Eros statue in London.
He seemed unbothered by a large police cordon and the commotion downstairs, preferring to scroll on his phone.
Images from later in the evening showed firefighters on an aerial platform addressing the man.
Piccadilly Circus tube station was closed for over an hour due to the incident.
Did you see what happened? Email chris.matthews@mailonline.co.uk
This is the moment a man climbed a statue in Piccadilly Circus and started scrolling through his phone
Bystanders were surprised to see a bald, bearded man in jeans and a gray jacket climbing the Eros statue in London
The Metropolitan Police told MailOnline: ‘Police are at Piccadilly Circus after a man climbed the Eros statue at around 6pm.
‘Officers are concerned for his well-being. Cordons have been placed while the man is being spoken to.
‘The London Ambulance Service and the London Fire Brigade are also at the scene.’
A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: ‘Firefighters were called in 1812 to reports of a man climbing a fountain in Piccadilly Circus.
He seemed unbothered by a large police cordon and the commotion downstairs, preferring to scroll on his phone
Images from later in the evening showed firefighters on an aerial platform addressing the man
Piccadilly Circus tube station was closed for over an hour due to the incident
Two fire engines were sent to the scene and one of the brigade’s 32-metre turntable ladders was also present.
Crews liaised with officers from the Metropolitan Police before referring the incident to the Met shortly after 2000.”
The Eros statue has been climbed a number of times since its installation in 1893.
The famous London statue that towers above the tourists and traffic in Piccadilly Circus has been a victim of mistaken identity for almost its entire existence.
Commonly referred to as Eros, the Greek god of love, the statue is in fact (and always has been) a depiction of Anteros, Eros’ brother.
Other names for the statue include the Shaftesbury Monument and the Angel Of Christian Charity.
MailOnline has contacted TfL for comment.