360 Child Climbs Historic Human Tower

FOR centuries, the “castellers" of Catalonia in Spain have been competing to build the highest and most impressive human towers

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Castellers form a human tower called "castell" during the Catalan festival

The formation of human towers is a tradition in the area of Catalonia

The youngest ‘exenetta’, child who climbs to the top is only 5 years old

A team known as the ‘Old Reds’ attempt to build a notoriously challenging tower

For centuries, the castellers of Catalonia have been competing to build the highest and most impressive human towers

Impressive: There can be anything up to 800 people participating and building each tower

Safety first: The base also acts as a safety net, should anyone fall

This incredible footage, shot in 360 by photographer and filmmaker Drew Gardner, shows a team known as the ‘Old Reds’ attempt to build a notoriously challenging tower not successfully achieved since 1881. Gardner travelled to Vilafranca, a small town just outside Barcelona, as thousands of spectators flooded into the packed town square to watch the castellers form a tower of five levels of four people, on top of which another level of two rested. However the tower is not considered complete until the enxaneta, a small child, has climbed to the very top and raised four fingers – said to represent the four stripes of the Catalan flag. After an initial failed attempt when the tower collapsed, the Old Reds managed to achieve their goal - and the celebrations began in earnest.