REVEALED: British ‘spider-man’ arrested for climbing Eiffel Tower during Olympics is a stuntman who has worked with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Cruise – and now faces a year in prison

The identity of the British climber who scaled the Eiffel Tower without a rope yesterday, just hours before the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics, has been revealed.

Louis Davis, a professional climber and stunt coordinator, was arrested on Sunday afternoon on the second floor of Paris’ most famous monument after climbing to the top in temperatures of 32 degrees Celsius.

Heartbreaking footage captured the moment Davis made his way up the iron girders, past the Olympic rings on the side of the tower, as shocked officials turned away tourists from the monument.

A later clip showed Davis, shirtless and laughing, being led away by officers as he joked, “It’s hot, isn’t it!” He was arrested when he reached the second observation deck.

It is the latest arrest following an incredible feat of skill and strength by Davis, who has previously scaled London’s famous ‘Cheesegrater’ building and has also worked with many of Hollywood’s top actors, including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Cruise.

French authorities have confirmed that he now faces charges of “endangering the lives of others”, an offence that could result in a one-year prison sentence and a fine of £12,800.

Now there are fears that prosecutors in Paris will seek a heavy sentence after police were forced to deploy vital resources to arrest him and evacuate the Eiffel Tower on the day of the Olympic closing ceremony.

Davis’s performance impressed the tourists, who could hear their breaths being held as he climbed, which took place just above the Olympic beach volleyball court.

But he never had the chance to complete the climb, such was the security around the monument in the hours leading up to the Olympic closing ceremony.

More than 30,000 police officers were deployed across Paris and beyond on Sunday to ensure the closing ceremony went off without a hitch.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin confirmed that 3,000 police officers were patrolling the Stade de France alone, while thousands more surrounded the Eiffel Tower and the city centre.

Davis was spotted after only a few minutes of climbing and later arrested by a special police unit sent to the tower when he reached the second observation deck.

The monument was evacuated as a precaution while police made the arrest.

‘He was arrested and handcuffed by police at 2.45pm,’ a source involved in the investigation told MailOnline.

‘He was on his way to the second floor when he was stopped by the police who specialize in climbing.’

Davis, who describes himself as “obsessed with fear and resilience,” has built an impressive career as a stuntman and has been involved in a number of high-profile projects and successful films.

Highlights include working with actors Christian Bale and Heath Ledger on Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed Batman film ‘Dark Knight’, Vin Diesel from the Fast and Furious franchise and fellow stunt fanatic Tom Cruise on the blockbuster Mission Impossible: Fallout.

Cruise himself showed his thirst for adrenaline rushes just hours after Davis attempted to scale the Eiffel Tower. Last night, he performed a rope dive at the Stade De France, a Mission Impossible-style finale to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The 62-year-old Hollywood star, dressed in a leather jacket and armor, dived from the roof of the stadium, flew to the podium and grabbed the Olympic flame before riding away on his motorcycle.

The large-scale stunt, which was watched live by around 70,000 spectators, was part of the handover of the Olympic flame from Paris to Los Angeles, where the Games will be held in 2028.

Davis has also gone on record with his various mental health struggles, claiming that these prompted him to pursue a career in climbing and stunts, with the physical challenge also providing a means for mental development.

‘My journey was not without challenges.

“When I was diagnosed with ADHD, OCD, and Borderline Personality Disorder, I struggled with bulimia, substance abuse, self-harm, and suicide attempts,” he wrote on his personal website.

‘Through these struggles, I discovered that confronting fear as a friend and showing resilience could change my life.

“This breakthrough made me climb professionally,” he concludes, adding that overcoming fears in the sport helped him “discover my true potential” and combat his mental health issues.

Davis made headlines in September 2023 when he climbed the Leadenhall Building in London, affectionately known as the ‘Cheesegrater’ and which is a whopping 224 metres, or 734 feet, high.

The climber climbed up with only shoes, shorts and a bag of chalk. There was no safety equipment, harness or ropes in sight.

Surreal footage of shocked office workers circulating on social media showed Davis working his way up through the metal grating between the Cheesegrater’s glass facade.