Teenager Dies After Falling From Sydney Building
CCTV footage captured the moments before and after a 17-year-old boy fell 30 meters to his death from Hibernian House in Surry Hills.
A 17-year-old boy died after falling approximately 30 meters from Hibernian House, a creative arts hub in Sydney, on Tuesday night. Emergency services were called to the building on Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, around 9 p.m. following reports of a person falling to the street.
The teenager sustained critical injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. It is understood he had been balancing on a rail when the incident occurred. Two friends who were with him were uninjured but were treated for shock.
CCTV footage from inside the building shows the trio, carrying backpacks, entering the top floor of the five-story warehouse. Moments later, only two of them are seen leaving. A triple-0 call recording captured one of the boys saying, "Ambulance! You have to get down here now, I think he died."
Police are treating the death as a suspected tragic misadventure. Hibernian House is known for its extensive graffiti and is a popular site for young people due to its accessible nature. However, reports indicate the teenagers had permission to be in the building from a tenant leasing a space there.
"There's a lot of businesses in this building, so lots of people coming and going. It's not overly hard to get in," one tenant told the Daily Telegraph. "I saw on the cameras the three teenagers walk across the balcony. I assumed they were there to hang out or do some tagging. Young people are attracted to it because of all the artwork when you walk in. I don't think it's an issue of security; it's an issue of curiosity."
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
