Man in his 70s dies in fall from Gwangju apartment roof while preparing painting work
In short
A man in his 70s fell from the rooftop of a 15-storey apartment building in Bongseon-dong, Nam-gu district, Gwangju, at about 09:01 on 9 October and died after being taken to hospital in cardiac arrest. He was preparing to paint the building's exterior wall, and police are investigating a witness account that he fell together with a rope he was lowering from the roof.
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A man in his 70s died after falling from the rooftop of an apartment building in Nam-gu district, Gwangju, at about 09:01 on 9 October, according to several local outlets. Kukmin Ilbo, citing fire authorities, reported that a call about the fall was received at that time. Yonhap and Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that the building is a 15-storey apartment in Bongseon-dong; Dong-A Ilbo also placed the accident in Bongseon-dong. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
The man, identified only as A, was taken to a nearby hospital in cardiac arrest but died, according to Yonhap, Dong-A Ilbo and Kyunghyang Shinmun. Dong-A Ilbo reported that fire authorities who responded to the report took him to hospital. Newsis reported that he was seriously injured and died while receiving treatment. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
The outlets reported that the man was preparing to paint the apartment's exterior wall at the time. Kukmin Ilbo, Dong-A Ilbo and Kyunghyang Shinmun described him as a worker. Newsis reported that he fell while lowering a rope from the rooftop for the painting work, and Kukmin Ilbo reported that police believe he fell together with the rope he was lowering from the roof. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Yonhap and Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that police are examining the exact circumstances on the basis of a witness statement that the man's centre of gravity shifted while he was lowering the rope and he fell along with it. All five outlets said police are investigating how the accident happened. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The death occurred during preparation for exterior painting work at a residential building, and several outlets described the man as a worker. Police are still investigating the exact circumstances of the fall.
Key facts
- The fall was reported at about 09:01 on 9 October at an apartment in Nam-gu district, Gwangju. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The apartment is in Bongseon-dong. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- The building has 15 storeys. [ 2 , 5 ]
- The man, in his 70s, was taken to hospital in cardiac arrest and died. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- He was preparing exterior wall painting work on the apartment building. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Police believe he fell together with a rope he was lowering from the rooftop. [ 1 , 2 , 5 ]
- Police are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A man in his 70s fell from an apartment in Nam-gu district, Gwangju, at about 09:01 on 9 October and died. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- He was preparing exterior wall painting work at the apartment. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- He was lowering a rope from the rooftop when he fell. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- He was in cardiac arrest when taken to a nearby hospital. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- The exact cause and circumstances of the fall. Police say they are still investigating; the account that his centre of gravity shifted as he lowered the rope comes from a witness statement reported by Yonhap and Kyunghyang Shinmun.
- The man's identity. The outlets identify him only as A, a man in his 70s.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- A man in his 70s falls at an apartment in Nam-gu district, Gwangju. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Yonhap reports the death, citing a witness statement on how the man fell. [ 2 ]
- Newsis reports the man died during treatment after falling while lowering a rope for exterior painting work. [ 3 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports the fall in Bongseon-dong. [ 4 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun reports the death of the worker at a 15-storey apartment. [ 5 ]