A tense drama unfolded in the heart of Adelaide when a teenager ascended a towering crane, reaching a dizzying height of 20 stories. After more than eight hours of delicate negotiations, the young man was finally taken into custody.

The incident began yesterday evening around 8 PM, when authorities were alerted to a man precariously perched on the edge of construction equipment. This was at a commercial building site located at the intersection of King William and Gilbert streets. The unfolding spectacle quickly drew a crowd of concerned onlookers below.

Mikaela Mudie, a witness to the unfolding situation, recounted her experience to 9News. “At one point, he moved from the inside of the crane to the outside, peering down. That was when our concern for his safety peaked,” she said, adding, “We watched as he continued to climb higher and higher.”

In response to the escalating situation, police officers enlisted the help of the Special Tasks and Rescue Group, alongside specialist negotiators, in a bid to coax the man down safely. Their efforts eventually culminated in the teenager’s safe descent and subsequent arrest, bringing the dramatic episode to a close.

“So that was when we were all really concerned for his safety. And we kept watching, and he kept going higher and higher.”

Police officers called in the Special Tasks and Rescue Group and specialist negotiators to persuade the man to safely climb back down.

They tried to reach him from multiple angles, with police climbing up themselves and firefighters flying in from above.

About 4.30am today, the man finally climbed down.

The 19-year-old from Hackham West was arrested and taken to hospital for assessment.

Police expect to interview him and charge him with trespass and obstructing a public place. 

The crane itself will now need to be checked and calibrated, but it is unlikely to cause any delays to the building project.