Downtown Seattle is abuzz Wednesday morning as a man who climbed the city's iconic sequoia tree remains high above the streets, becoming a local spectacle and shutting down traffic as rescue crews work to retrieve him.
News of the man began to circulate around 11 a.m. on Tuesday when local authorities received a 911 call about the presence of a man who managed to climb to the top of the 80-foot tree. Rescue crews soon arrived in an attempt to bring him down, but he refused - emphasizing his intent by shouting obscenities and throwing pine cones and oranges at civilians and authorities below.
The identity of the man is unknown, with him only being identifiable by the beard and red wool cap that has since fallen as he made his stay. Some people say the man is homeless and claim to have seen him in downtown Seattle from time-to-time. One thing that authorities are certain of however, is that the man only poses a threat to himself and the tree, as evidenced by him ripping off the tree's branches.
The "issue appears to be between the man and the tree," local authorities said on Twitter.
Authorities aren't rushing the rescue operation because they're worried about the man's mental health. However, they have more at stake than just the man's health - the tree is in jeopardy as well.
The 80-foot tree is a local landmark, dwarfing the surrounding urban space since the 1970s. It used to be the official downtown Christmas tree, with the city's gray skies juxtaposed with the seasonal lights. Times have been hard on the tree as of late however, with its troubles starting in 2006 when a windstorm ripped the upper 10 feet of the tree clean off. Its health began to deteriorate over the next four years, prompting the city to call in a tree expert and requisition an emergency soil treatment. With these issues plaguing the tree, the unidentified man's presence could prove to be what does it in.
As of early this morning, the man is still in the tree and traffic is diverted from the area as rescue crews endeavor to bring him down. It looks like he may be in it for the long haul, as he has crafted a makeshift fort to rest in until he accomplishes his goal.
A live stream of the situation can be viewed here.
