A terrified 23-year-old man had to be rescued from a three-metre tower at Wollongong Harbour on Thursday night following a reported dare gone wrong.
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Witnesses said emergency services were called to the harbour around 9.40pm after a man wearing only his undies climbed up a gantry, a piece of equipment used to weigh fish, and became too scared to get down.
The multi-agency response reportedly involved two fire trucks, a police car, a Police Rescue van and the SES.
Shelly Kaestner was there with her boyfriend when the incident unfolded.
"Me and my boyfriend drove down to Wollongong Harbour after dinner to catch up with some friends," she said.
"He was dared to jump off of the shark point but fear took over and he couldn't get down.
"There were around 10 of his friends that were laughing until they realised he was serious.
"When he got up there he got scared and had to call emergency services to come and get him down."
A Wollongong Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman said fire crews had to use a ladder to lower him to safety.
A NSW Police spokeswoman said he was issued a $220 fine for climbing a fixture without authority.
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