An elderly man who worked on the Sydney Harbour Bridge 60 years ago has returned to Australia to climb the iconic landmark.
Irishman Patrick Lonergan, 82, was part of a team of men who painted the Harbour Bridge in the 1960s as part of its yearly maintenance.
Lonergan then returned to his native Ireland after his work in Sydney and has dreamed of returning ever since.
Now in his 80s, the Sydney Bridge Climb official Instagram page has shared that Patrick has ticked off his bucket list dream of climbing the Harbour Bridge.
“We’re honoured to have played a small role in helping him relive those special memories and capture a new photo on the Bridge,” the account wrote.
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The Instagram page then shared a photo of Patrick from when he was in his 20s standing atop the bridge when he was enlisted to paint, and also a photo snapped after he completed his climb.
The post racked up thousands of likes, with dozens of comments praising Patrick’s efforts for completing the climb.
One person wrote, “Blimey!!! No OH&S precautions back in those days! Welcome back to Oz, Paddy,” while another added, “What a fantastic story. Well done Patrick!”
Image credits: Instagram – Bridge Climb
