AUCKLAND, New Zealand — A 22-year-old Belgian man faces a burglary charge after his parachute failed, leaving him stranded on the side of an Auckland hotel during what appears to have been a base-jumping stunt.
New Zealand Police said emergency services responded at about 10:42 p.m. to reports of a man stuck on the side of a hotel on Albert Street.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand rescued the man, but crews had to break a glass panel valued at approximately $20,000 to reach him. The man was not injured and did not require medical attention.
Police said investigators believe the man was also responsible for a September incident in which someone filmed himself base jumping from another Auckland building that was under construction.
Auckland City Area Commander Inspector Grae Anderson said authorities do not condone this type of behavior, calling it reckless and saying that it poses a risk to the person jumping and those on the ground. Anderson said the incident also disrupted hotel guests and caused significant property damage.
“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 that rescue,” Anderson said.
The man, whose name was not released, is scheduled to appear in Auckland District Court on Oct. 27 on a burglary charge. Police said he will remain in New Zealand rather than continue his travel plans.
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