A thrill-seeking tourist is facing two charges after a daring jump from a luxury high-rise tower in Auckland sparked a rescue mission.
Emergency services raced to Hotel Indigo on Albert St at 10.42pm on Tuesday night following reports a man in a parachute was dangling from the building’s exterior.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson said the 22-year-old Belgian tourist had leapt from the 27th floor of the luxury building, but an issue with his parachute left him stranded outside the 23rd floor.
The dangling daredevil was able to cut himself free from his parachute, with a high angle rescue crew removing a window and pulling the man inside the building after nearly an hour, sparking cheers from a crowd of shocked onlookers.
The man was not injured in the incident and did not require medical attention.
Auckland City Area Commander, Inspector Grae Anderson, told local media the man’s actions had damaged the building and disrupted the hotel guests.
“In order to reach the man on the outside of the building, a glass panel worth approximately $20,000 had to be smashed,” he said.
The leading officer said enquiries revealed it was not the only incident involving the tourist — with vision allegedly capturing the same man base jumping from a different Auckland building back in September.
Vision of the self-taped jump had been shared to social media, showing the daredevil leaping from an under-construction highrise onto an empty road in the CBD.
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Speaking to NZ media outlet Stuff, the 22-year-old tourist called Tuesday’s hotel rescue “unexpected”.
“Unfortunately when my parachute opened, it spun around and crashed into the building,” he revealed.
“The building wasn’t smooth and the parachute got caught on a metal bar on the facade — I was able to hold onto it while waiting for the rescue team.”
He later issued an apology to all those in Auckland who had been impacted by the rescue mission.
“What happened yesterday shouldn’t have happened, but unfortunately it is something that can happen and you never know when,” he said in a public statement.
“I thank the emergency service for their help and kindness.”
Police issued a stern warning to those thinking of replicating the base jumper’s bold moves.
“We do not condone this type of behaviour — it is reckless and poses risk to the person jumping and those on the ground,” Anderson said.
“In this case the man not only needed rescuing, but paying guests to the hotel had their stay impacted and expensive damage had to be caused to facilitate his rescue.
“This is unacceptable and now instead of leaving New Zealand and carrying on with his travels, he will stay here and face the consequences of his actions.”
The 22-year-old was charged with burglary over the two base jumping incidents.
He will front Auckland District Court on October 27.