Video showing two young men climbing a transmission tower in Saint John, New Brunswick have sparked a police investigation.
Saint John police say charges are pending after receiving a complaint from NB Power.
One of the climbers, 18-year-old Noah Kingston — who posted video of his dangerous stunt online — told Global News he no longer plans to attempt these stunts again.
“The transmission tower is my last climb,” he said. “I’m not continuing to climb anything, anything anymore.”
The approximately 60 metre high transmission tower is located on Saint John’s west side.
The shocking video, which was posted on Facebook and YouTube, is drawing criticism from several corners, including police who call the act completely unacceptable.
Kingston says he realizes his actions may influence younger people to follow his lead and try it for themselves
“[People might say] ‘I want to do that’ or ‘that looks cool, I want to go try that’ and tag their friends,” Kingston said. “So I tell them yeah you shouldn’t do that.”
Duff Boyd, health and safety director for NB Power, says transmission towers contain very real hazards.
“From an electrical perspective the individual simply doesn’t know how close they were to being killed and exposing themselves and their family and potentially first responders to worse consequences,” Boyd said.
“Electricity is invisible, but it will find you and the consequences of it are debilitating to say the least. If you’re not killed outright you will be burned very, very, very badly.”
READ MORE: Notorious crane climber unretires to scale Goldstream trestle
Police say they’re continuing to investigate the “very serious incident,” and have identified two “urban climber” suspects they plan to follow up with.
Media relations officer Sgt. Lori Magee said in a statement that the force is “strongly” urging the public to talk to their children about the seriousness of this type of activity.
“This activity is extremely dangerous and not only puts the lives of those engaged in this activity at risk but also endangers the lives of the first responders called to a scene when something goes wrong,” Magee said.
Magee admits that when she saw the photos of the young men climbing the tower she found them “disturbing and actually sickening.”
Police say the investigation is in its early stages but criminal mischief is one possible charge that could be laid.
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