UNITED KINGDOM: MAN DRESSED AS SPIDERMAN SPENDS SIX DAYS UP A CRANE STAGING PROTEST TO HIGHLIGHT THE PLIGHT OF FATHERS WHO ARE REFUSED ACCESS TO THEIR CHILDREN

Record ID: 858678

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: MAN DRESSED AS SPIDERMAN SPENDS SIX DAYS UP A CRANE STAGING PROTEST TO HIGHLIGHT THE PLIGHT OF FATHERS WHO ARE REFUSED ACCESS TO THEIR CHILDREN
  • Date: 5th November 2003
  • Summary: (EU) LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (NOVEMBER 5, 2003) (REUTERS) PAN UP FROM LONDON TOUR BUS TO SPIDERMAN DAVID CHICK ON CRANE CLOSEUP OF SPIDERMAN LAS CRANE WITH BANNERS SV/MCU OF PEOPLE LOOKING UP (2 SHOTS) MCU (English) VOXPOP, SAYING: "It's great, isn't it, there should be someone up there with him. Why shouldn't he see his children? Why shouldn't he be allowed to see them?" LV BANNER READING 'IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER' MCU (English) VOXPOP, SAYING: "I've been in this same situation myself the despair, the anguish, the agony that you feel when you're separated from your children you can never describe it, it drives a lot of fathers to suicide but this father hasn't committed suicide, he's fighting to see his child. That's every parent's right to see their children." LAS SPIDERMAN WAVING MCU (English) VOXPOP, SAYING: "I think he's a bloody idiot and they ought to shoot him down. Seriously. Shoot him down, it's ridiculous."
  • Embargoed: 20th November 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Crime,Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVADSAFWP7LNC1F8PVLA9XGLKWB3
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: A man who caused road closures and huge disruption in central London after spending six days up a crane dressed as Spiderman has ended his protest.
    It was yet another bizarre addition to London's tourist attractions - first Tower Bridge lent its fame to U.S showman David Blaine for his starvation stunt and only a few weeks later a crane on a nearby building site served as temporary home for a protester in a spiderman outfit.
    36 year-old David Chick has been occupying the crane for six days, staging a protest to highlight the plight of fathers who are refused access to their children.
    The UK Organisation Fathers 4 Justice said Mr Chick was protesting after being refused the right to see his four-year-old daughter Lauren. It is believed he was awarded a court order to see the child but had been refused access by the child's mother over the last eight months.
    Roads surrounding Tower Bridge were closed for the first five days of the protest amid fears the crane would become unstable in strong winds. On Tuesday (November 4) when it became apparent he had brought along plenty of food and water supplies and was not intending a suicide bid, Scotland Yard decided to reopen the roads.
    Reactions to Spiderman from onlookers have been mixed.
    "It's great, isn't it, there should be someone up there with him. Why shouldn't he see his children? Why shouldn't he be allowed to see them?" "I've been in this same situation myself the despair, the anguish, the agony that you feel when you're separated from your children you can never describe it, it drives a lot of fathers to suicide but this father hasn't committed suicide, he's fighting to see his child. That's every parent's right to see their children."
    But for local residents, this was no friendly neighbour. "I think he's a bloody idiot and they ought to shoot him down. Seriously. Shoot him down, it's ridiculous." The police, however, had other ideas about hiw to deal with the protest. They could be seen climbing up the crane to bring Chick refreshments, and discuss his descent. Scotland Yard confirmed that when Mr Chick came down, he would be arrested for aggravated trespass and for causing a public nuisance.
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