Sydney was brought to a standstill yesterday after a man scaled the Harbour Bridge due to a family issue.

In 2011, another man took to the bridge and unfurled two banners saying ‘please help my kids’ and ‘kids first’ in protest of the family courts.

Ben Fordham received an email from a distressed father after his wife up and left with his three children the day before Father’s Day in October last year, and since then, Tony has only seen his children for one hour on Christmas Day.

“I don’t know if my children are even alive,” he says.

He tells Ben he’s up to $18,000 in solicitors fees, and he hasn’t set foot in court.

“I think it’s all designed as a tactic to bleed out the other party.

“I’ve got to pay for her solicitor through my tax and I got to pay for my own solicitor on top.”

Tony says he won’t give up, no matter the cost.

“I’ll end up with nothing on my back before I give up.”

Listen to Tony’s devastating story below