Warstein (Germany), July 23 (DPA) A nude climber stuck halfway up a cliff face in the pitch dark had to phone police officers, who shone a spotlight on him so he could find handholds to lower himself down, police said Friday.

The 47-year-old man was unable to explain why he had drunkenly stripped off at dusk Thursday, packed all his clothes in his rucksack and headed up the 40-metre quarry wall in Warstein, 100 km east of Dusseldorf.

Clinging to a ledge, he became too weak to proceed and could not get dressed for fear of falling. Hours later, becoming both very cold and sober, he managed to get out his mobile phone and contact the police.

Police took him to hospital as a precaution, in case he had

suffered from exposure.