A driver heading to his car in Jihlava early Saturday found something he didn’t expect: blood on his hood, scattered clothes on the ground, and a man in only a T-shirt and underwear clinging to the top of a large spruce.

The man, later identified as a 36-year-old, had climbed the tree during the night while under the influence of drugs. He remained there for hours in freezing weather until he was spotted at dawn.

Before officers arrived, the driver called line 158, prompting a response from police, firefighters, and paramedics. The tree stood near the football stadium, and the man was several meters above ground, gripping the branches tightly.

After the driver called line 158, police, firefighters, and paramedics were dispatched. Police spokeswoman Dana Čírtková said the driver first heard strange sounds and then noticed someone high up in the branches.

A police officer joined firefighters in the basket to speak to the man, who was dressed only in underwear and a T-shirt. He did not respond to instructions and moved to thinner branches, complicating the rescue.

Firefighters eventually raised the platform above the treetop, allowing a firefighter to descend toward the man using a rope. After several minutes, the man began to climb down slowly and reached the ground safely.

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He was taken to the emergency department at Jihlava Hospital, suffering from cold exposure and minor injuries. Shortly after noon, he was transported to the psychiatric hospital, where he continued to communicate with officers.

According to police, he told them he had used drugs on Friday night and, influenced by their effects, climbed the tree sometime around midnight.

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