Spine-tingling video shows first responders’ daring rescue of man in crisis on top of 250-foot radio tower in Minnesota

Spine-tingling video captured the moment first responders in Minnesota saved a man in crisis — at the top of a 250-foot radio tower.

Aerial footage showed Sgt. Alex Eckstein, a member of the highly-trained Dakota County Special Operations Team, climbing up to the unidentified man who was at the top of the tower in Eagan, just south of Minneapolis.

The rescue was “pretty daunting,” Eckstein told WCCO News. “I’ve never experienced anything this physical or mentally draining.”

The call about the disstressed man early on Oct. 10 quickly turned Eckstein’s routine shift into an unexpected high-wire act that he hoepes he never has to repeat.

“You’re thinking a lot of things; how are we going to get there, how are we going to get this person down,” Eckstein recalled.

The rescuer spent about a half-hour spidering up the metal structure, fighting violent winds as he hooked his carabineer and rope to the rungs in case he fell.

“You’re doing awesome!” Eckstein yelled to the man during his ascent, promisng him they’d geet hime down.

“It’s unbelievable that this person was able to hold on that long. Nobody likes to be up that high,” the rescuer said.

Eckstein’s partner, Chief Sam Seal, went ahead, and when both men were at the top, Seal managed to get a harness on the distressed man before repelling down.

“I went to training for it, but I didn’t think I’d ever climb 250 feet to get somebody down,” Seal told the network.

Authorities brought the man to the hospital — and his rescuers said they’ll be ready if something similar ever happens again.

“We don’t want to do it again, but we will be prepared for it,” Eckstein said.