Bodycam footage shows moment two people who climbed on top of the Empire State Building arrested by police

How do you spend your day off? Chilling on the sofa? Relaxing stroll around the park? How about a climb up the Empire State Building?

I'm sure that the last one has never crossed your mind, either, but Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov must just be built different.

They are the daring duo who brought New York City to a standstill on Wednesday (July 1) as they climbed to the summit of the world's most famous building. All 1,454ft (443 metres) of it,

The pair weren't just up their for a unique view of the skyline, either, as they made the most of the world's eyes (at least those not watching England edge past DR Congo) being planted firmly upon them.

A huge black banner was attached to the skyscraper, which read: "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace."

After moving down from the very top spire to a small platform, the pair shared one of the most unique marriage proposals in history before sharing a kiss and continuing their descent.

The stunt has now landed Nikolau, 33, and Kuznetsov, 32, in hot water, though, as the New York Police Department soon took them into custody.

Now body camera footage from the dramatic arrest has been released.

The moment Empire State Building climbers were arrested

A bodycam video shows officers, who were wearing climbing safety equipment, reaching the pair while still up on the building's antenna.

“Hey I got eyes on ‘em,” one cop said in the footage. “Hello, how you doing? Are you going to stay where you are? You can’t be up here!”

“I’m ok,” replied Nikolau, as an officer can be seen taking hold of her arm.

Another officer then asks if she is going to be 'co-operative', which it seems they were as they were taken into custody after returning to the ground.

The body cam footage was shared by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch on Instagram, who wrote in the caption: "A glimpse into the work of our Emergency Service Unit.

"God bless these officers."

Charges against the pair, originally from Moscow Russia but now living in East Orange, New Jersey, remain pending, reports the New York Post, though it is illegal to climb the exterior of the Empire State Building without authorisation.

Nikolau and Kuznetsov are subjects of the 2024 Netflix documentary, Skywalkers: A Love Story, which explores their relationship and adrenaline-seeking hobby of scaling massive buildings.

They've also climbed Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, the world's second-tallest building, and the Bay Ridge in San Francisco.

FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe believes their latest climb has put Empire State Building owners and officials in a 'tough spot.'

He told CNN: "They are going to have to do whatever they can to see that these people are prosecuted for any appropriate charges, because they cannot take the chance that others will see this and decide to also try it.

“The last thing that people who are responsible for the Empire State Building want is to turn this place into a target for that sort of activity, because ultimately it will end in some sort of tragedy. The danger here, the recklessness, is obvious and can’t be overstated."