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Teen used GoPro to capture his illegal climb to the top of Great Pyramid of Giza

by 17 Comments

Screen Shot 2016-01-29 at 11.33.53 PM

GoPros are marketed towards those who seek adrenaline, day in, day out. For better or worse, adrenaline often coincides with illegal activities. This was made very evident in the latest GoPro adventures of 18-year-old Andrej Ciesielski, a German-born teen who recently made an illegal climb to the top of the Great Pyramid of Giza and captured it all on his head-mounted GoPro.

According to Ciesielski, the risk of three years imprisonment (not to mention the possibility of slipping) would be worth it because of the images he’d capture, in speaking with the Telegraph.

It took only eight minutes for Ciesielski to make it to the top, where he spends a fair bit of time taking in the surrounding scenery. His descent took about twenty minutes, as he was trying to be a bit more careful on the way down.

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The view from the top.

However, as careful as he was, there were local police happy to assist him into custody when he made it to the bottom. Ciesielski says the officers first wanted to take him to the German embassy, but declined to press charges under the condition that he delete all photographic evidence from his GoPro.

Considering he’s no longer in custody, it appears he did just that. How do we have the video then? Why, Ciesielski used data recovery software to bring back the images, even after they were deleted.

As a final statement of sorts, Ciesielski said:

‘Some people were really angry but I don’t care […] I didn’t destroy anything. I didn’t hurt anyone.’

At some level, he might be right, as he alone didn’t destroy much of anything. However, if dozens more were to do that with the same mentality, it could lead to massive damage to one of the most treasured landmarks in the world through erosion—and that’s if they’re being responsible.

While his means of keeping the footage was clever, it is far from our desire to promote this sort of activity. Take this as a warning of sorts and as a life lesson of things not to do. He might’ve gotten away with it, but many haven’t before and future offenders likely won’t either.

[via Telegraph]

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  • Well played.

  • Renato Murakami

    Don’t share these types of stories, don’t give the guy exactly what he wanted.
    Regardless of what he said, he DID destroy things. It’s exactly because of shitheads like this guy that historically protected places falls into disrepair. The moment he touched the stones on his way up the damages were already done. It’s illegal to climb it exactly because of this.
    I know that lots of people climb the pyramids illegaly to take shots and whatnot, but his actions are not to be taken lightly.
    Also, it’s fucktards like this guy that gives a bad name to an entire generation. It’s because people like him that others will call this the most self-centered, inconsequent, disrespectful, ignorant and moronic generation who thinks they know it all and that will do anything for some stupid 5 seconds of internet fame.
    Honestly Gannon, you should take the post down. I don’t want to see this as motive for other idiots to try the same.
    It’s quite unfortunate the situation the local police is put through. They don’t have enough people or money to keep constant monitoring of the pyramids, and they don’t want to create an international situation because some stupid kid. But he should be in jail. If that sounds harsh, that’s because it is adequate to his crime.
    The police probably agreed not to press charges provided that he wiped his card because they don’t want it shared on internet websites because they really don’t want to encourage the action.
    As for the guy, I have no pitty if an Internet group goes against him. Fucking self centered stupid kid.

    • Renato Murakami

      Let me also say that I encourage people to report the video. Just did it.

      • Jason Wright

        I agree, un-deleting the thing was hardly in the spirit of the terms of not going to jail!

        • Kay O. Sweaver

          Un-deleting is fine. I’ve done the same thing. Posting it online afterwards was a douche move.

    • Arthur_P_Dent

      Your obscene language undermines what little credibility your argument might have had. At least the kid only took pictures, unlike everyone else who had to carve their names into the stone.

      • jabberwook

        another moron….

  • Really DIY?? Shithead is destroying ancient ruins and you support it??

  • Jim

    I don’t know why the police didn’t charge this fuck-wit. He is a useless appendix (Blinddarm) to society.
    If I go to another country I am a guest there. That means I abide by their customs and laws. – This guy is an arrogant shit.

  • Boats

    Do not encourage other people by sharing the video, come on!

  • Teodorico Morell

    What is going to be next? A video of a rape or a killing?

  • Robin

    Wont be watching the video, any one who does or this site included is as much to blame.

  • ajfudge

    “While his means of keeping the footage was clever, it is far from our
    desire to promote this sort of activity. Take this as a warning of sorts
    and as a life lesson of things not to do. He might’ve gotten away with
    it, but many haven’t before and future offenders likely won’t either.”

    Then again, this article was still published here.
    The teen wanted to go viral, and this site wanted more clicks. Sometimes, one cannot say one thing yet his action proves otherwise; you cannot compensate for broken morality with a disclaimer like “I didn’t break anything” or “We don’t promote this.”

  • Arthur_P_Dent

    Illegally climbing the pyramid: not a good idea.
    Using recovery software to countermand unlawful order to delete footage of climb: brilliant.

  • 2345675

    fukn ret@rd….

  • John Seidel

    Won’t watch the video. Agree the article should be deleted. Giving publicity to vandals is never a good idea.

  • thebeline

    For what it is worth, there have been countless other people at the top of that pyramid. While I could be pedantic, and be referring to the countless slaves that built it, I am not. There is a tower at the top, bricks layed in many places, and as 1:11 (and I wasn’t looking hard, I am sure there are more examples) you can see initials and words carved into the stone. He did not take a pre-determined route, and with the number of stones involved in this structure, it is highly unlikely that he happen to cross paths with only one other visitor. it is also highly unlikely that that visitor was the only other one. So, countless.

    He did not destroy or deface anything, he was careful, and (generally) respectful. His ascent, in a days time, will be undetectable. Illegal, yes, but please, please please please, people, get off your high horses. The shear number of people who stray from the marked path in parks and other monuments is staggering and unimaginable. Does that make it “ok”, no, not really, but your anger and disgust is pitifully inconsequential in the grand scheme of things…

    He did his best to leave no mark, he survived, and he produced stunning imagery and a perspective that none of us will ever be able to see. He did us a service by providing these images, we can now live vicariously through this video. In light of this, I am flabbergasted that Egypt has not released a 360 degree panorama, or drone footage of the same. Perhaps they will, to prevent this from ocuring again. I would love to see that.

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