Man who climbed 400-foot tower at Orlando TV station makes his way down safely

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The man who climbed a 400-foot microwave tower Wednesday at an Orlando television station has made his way down safely.

Police said crisis negotiators talked the 43-year-old man down. He was transported to a local hospital for physical and mental evaluation.

Police said they were called just before 11:15 a.m. to WKMG-TV's studios on North John Young Parkway near North Orange Blossom Trail after someone discovered a backpack in the area and noticed the man climbing the tower.

Shortly after 3:15 p.m., two firefighters ascended the tower to try to deliver a safety harness to the man, but the firefighters descended the tower because the man climbed to the top of it.

The man started to climb down the tower while a thunderstorm moved through the area, but he climbed back up.

Around 7:30 p.m., the man made it down safely.

Officials still have not said if they know why he climbed the tower.

Check back and watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News for live updates on this developing story.

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Cox Media Group