I’m still confused by this.
Yale student, Cameron Dabaghi, 21, took a leap off the Empire State Building’s 86th floor Observation Deck on Tuesday evening, approximately 6:30 EDT. His fall reached the sidewalk of 34th Street, near the corner of 5th Avenue, where a few street-level witnesses said they were cued to the incident by the sound of the impact. One store-owner describing it as an explosion.
Dabaghi was an East Asian Studies major at the prestigious Ivy League school, and was originally from Austin, Texas.
Suicide attempts are certainly no rarity at the famed world structure, but I cannot recall hearing of one from the contemporary version of the Observation Deck. As you’ve noticed in the photo, how exactly would one pull off such a feat without bringing obvious attention to what they were doing?
The crowds on the deck were small yesterday, due to inclement weather. Those who saw the incident stated that Dabaghi took a running leap and cleared “a barrier” which enabled him to avoid the multi-leveled deck structures hundreds of feet below. He landed across the street, and in front of the Bank of America branch. I used to live in NYC, have been to this Observation Deck and the Empire State Building on multiple occasions, and I still cannot fathom how he pulled this off!?
Are there any New Yorkers who can help me out? It seems to me that someone must not have been doing their job for this kid to be able to leap over any of the safety measures constructed on the deck.
(Image via: NewYorkology)
Oh My God!!! What is going on with people wanting to committe Suicide. What is this world coming to? Some people are crying for help and don’t know what to do. Gosh, I feel so sorry for that boy’s family.
Gina
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My son and I were on our way to the building just after the poor man jumped. Although the street was blocked off by police and we were informed that the observation deck was closed, we were still able to go up to the 86th floor. Due to the poor visability and rain, the deck staff was probably not outside or really paying much attention to what was occurring on the exterior deck area. There are some railings that may have been used, but I agree with you, how did he get over the curved fencing? My sympathies go out to this boy’s family and friends.
When someone takes their own life, it’s not anybody else’s fault. If he wouldn’t have done it there, he would have done it somewhere else. Sad story, feel sorry for him & his family.
@Audrey… I don’t agree entirely that nobody else can be blamed in some cases. Look at the ex-nurse in Minnisota that’s being investigated for encouraging suicides on-line.