Althouse: 29-year-old banker jumps from 24th floor of luxury apartment building, landing near a bus full of tourists who take snapshots of the grisly remains.

May 29, 2015

29-year-old banker jumps from 24th floor of luxury apartment building, landing near a bus full of tourists who take snapshots of the grisly remains.

The body "landed on a guardrail near the northbound Battery Park Underpass, narrowly missing a black SUV." "The head hit the railing . . . Half his head is on one side of the railing, half on the other."

You know, don't kill yourself. But, if you do, don't transform the body you're throwing away into a deadly projectile or a tourist attraction.

55 comments:

kcom said...: Pics, or it didn't happen.

:); 5/29/15, 7:29 AM
cubanbob said...: You know, don't kill yourself. But, if you do, don't transform the body you're throwing away into a deadly projectile or a tourist attraction. "

A bit testy this morning aren't we. How dare the deceased not kill himself in a more aesthetic manner.; 5/29/15, 7:36 AM
Unknown said...: ART baby, performance art. One show only.; 5/29/15, 7:39 AM
JCC said...: Actually, I agree with the OP. If you decide to kill yourself, have some consideration for others, especially your family, or perhaps children who might see. Suicide like this is an act of ultimate self-centeredness.; 5/29/15, 7:40 AM
Bay Area Guy said...: Sad story - young guy was probably stressed out about things that were actually fixable.

Not a huge fan of the New Yorker, but this article on suicide jumpers from the Golden Gate Bridge was excellent:

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2003/10/13/jumpers

The lucky few who survive, almost always say that the second they jumped, they knew it was a mistake. 94% of those who are talked out of jumping don't try again. To my mind, it's mostly crisis-oriented - with many better options to solve or manage the crisis, than ending it all.; 5/29/15, 7:43 AM
Scott said...: Thinking about the "Most Interesting Man in the World" meme.

"I don't always commit suicide. But when I do..."; 5/29/15, 7:44 AM
Curious George said...: "You know, don't kill yourself. But, if you do, don't transform the body you're throwing away into a deadly projectile or a tourist attraction."

Or a mess. Buy a body bag and a gun. Crawl in, zip up. Bang. No muss no fuss.; 5/29/15, 7:44 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "How dare the deceased not kill himself in a more aesthetic manner."

In a manner that doesn't risk killing other people.; 5/29/15, 7:45 AM
Ann Althouse said...: Or severely traumatizing other people. Which this man did.; 5/29/15, 7:46 AM
Fabi said...: Do you reach terminal velocity from the 24th floor?

By the way, I heard he would have received a perfect 10.0 for the leap, but the Russian judge only gave him a 9.8. Fuckin' Rooskies!; 5/29/15, 7:46 AM
Laslo Spatula said...: David Lee Roth has a lot to answer for.

I am Laslo.; 5/29/15, 7:47 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "Buy a body bag and a gun. Crawl in, zip up. Bang. No muss no fuss."

Compare Hunter S. Thompson.; 5/29/15, 7:47 AM
Fabi said...: Suicide is not the ultimate act of self-centerdness. Two weeks ago the brother of one of my best friends killed himself with an OD. He was a physician who had dealt with bouts of severe depression his whole life. Three days before that, the older son of a different friend shot himself in the head. He was very young (31 years old) and had played D1 football at a powerhouse school. Couldn't rid himself of the myriad physical pains. Both extremely sad cases and not a damned thing to do with being self-centered.; 5/29/15, 7:55 AM
Scott said...: I think about suicide all the time. I just don't think about doing it though. I think about what it must have been like at the World Trade Center, having to decide whether to be burned to death, or crushed to death by the collapsing building, or to jump 40 floors. It makes my knees shake. I have had a more intense fear of heights after 9/11.

I woke up with about two hours sleep, vocalizing a wish to God that he would take me. A little later, an intense argument with my partner ensued. I left the house to walk to the train station, forgetting to take my meds for diabetes. Got to Penn Station, caught the E train, went to Duane Reade to get some fresh fruit for breakfast, and went down to my sub-basement office off of Lexington Ave. where I am enjoying being one of the only people who doesn't work from home on Fridays. Just me and the sigh of the HVAC in the empty office. I feel a bit better now. Maybe it's the taste of the blueberries that's cheering me up.

Three people I knew committed suicide in the past five years. When I feel the oppressiveness of life, I just hunker down and endure it. There have been a lot of days like that though. I'd like to think that my values keep me from killing myself. The reality is probably that I'm too chickenshit. Whatever it takes.; 5/29/15, 7:58 AM
n.n said...: Planned Sabbatical. Privacy for people who choose to end the term prematurely.; 5/29/15, 8:00 AM
garage mahal said...: "29-year-old banker jumps from 24th floor of luxury apartment building..."

It's a good start.; 5/29/15, 8:01 AM
Scott said...: Is it.; 5/29/15, 8:07 AM
traditionalguy said...: Tomorrow is another day, you Depressed people. Talking to them when they discuss the depression reveals that they want to give up because of an unresolved anger problem they are targeting themselves with rather than the betraying people who did something to them.

What they really need are lawyers paid to sue the people. That way they get some righteous revenge or at worst commit suicide by lawyer fees.; 5/29/15, 8:10 AM
Laslo Spatula said...: We do not know what happened in the moments before his leap.

Maybe the Bad Angel was hounding him to go on a spree of rape and murder JUST DO IT JUST DO IT and the Good Angel said 'That would be a BAD THING, you should not kill and harm others just because of BAD THINGS in your head."

"Ignore him," the Bad Angel said, "Live Life like a God where you alone hold the Powers of Sex and Death. There are a lot of beautiful girls out there, a lot of beautiful girls JUST DO IT JUST DO IT.

So the Good Angel said "Well, maybe you should just jump out the window Right Now before you begin to harm others."

Then Jesus appeared and the room became very quiet.

After several moments of silence He spoke:

"Well, between Bad Angel and Good Angel here, I would have to go along with Good Angel on this one."

It could've happened this way, we don't know.

I am Laslo.; 5/29/15, 8:12 AM
chickelit said...: Considering the apparent distance between the guardrail and what must have been his launch pad 29 floors up, he must have been aiming. That's quite a leap with plenty of horizontal thrust. It must have been a graceful arc--headfirst too, I imagine.

I wonder what his politics were?; 5/29/15, 8:15 AM
Scott said...: "What they really need are lawyers paid to sue the people. That way they get some righteous revenge or at worst commit suicide by lawyer fees."

Committing suicide by lawyer fees must be like getting half your face blown off by a shotgun and surviving..; 5/29/15, 8:16 AM
Scott said...: "I wonder what his politics were?"

Geez, you and garbage mahal. Everything seen through the lens of politics.; 5/29/15, 8:16 AM
Bob Boyd said...: Back story. The 29 year old jumper grew up in Wisconsin. He started a cheese when he was ten. Last night he came home to find his room mate and a couple friends had gotten stoned and made nachos.; 5/29/15, 8:19 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "Maybe it's the taste of the blueberries that's cheering me up."

I wish I could taste blueberries!; 5/29/15, 8:23 AM
Meade said...: Who Moved My Headcheese?; 5/29/15, 8:25 AM
Helenhightops said...: @ Scott: Hang in there. I admire your fortitude. And you write beautifully.; 5/29/15, 8:29 AM
Guildofcannonballs said...: Best case scenario is a "say what you want about Hitler, but at least he killed Hitler" type deal, which isn't a good deal mind you.

I wonder if heroin were less stigmatized and this man had decided to kill himself like that over some years he would have preferred that (relatively innocuous) death?; 5/29/15, 8:31 AM
Mick said...: Didn't realize Scott was a homosexual, that explains a lot, like his love for the Usurper, another homosexual.

As for the bankers, many have killed themselves lately or have died in very mysterious circumstances--- i.e they were "suicided" for knowing too much about the banker crime syndicate that rules over our political system.

Just google "banker deaths"; 5/29/15, 8:38 AM
Annie said...: Scott, lack of sleep can create or exascerbate health problems including depression. Not good for the diabetes either.; 5/29/15, 8:41 AM
Bob Boyd said...: R&B music, cheese, suicidal obsession and paying a high price for a feel good moment are all captured in this beautiful and moving 4 minute video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuNvRFOXn3w; 5/29/15, 8:46 AM
Bay Area Guy said...: Empathy for @Scott - which is nice to see.

No empathy for the 29-year old jumping, Banker or is it Banking jumper? Interesting.; 5/29/15, 8:47 AM
Martha said...: from the Post story:

"He had apparently become very successful on his own.
He owned his apartment in the 36-story Ocean complex, which overlooks The Battery and New York Harbor, and had just returned from a vacation in the Bahamas, sources said."

Successful?; 5/29/15, 8:47 AM
Peter said...: "The Falling Man is a photograph taken by Associated Press photographer Richard Drew of a man falling from the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 9:41:15 a.m. during the September 11 attacks in New York City."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Falling_Man

It would have taken about ten seconds to fall from the roof of the WTC, so there'd be time to think on the way down. From the 24th floor, about four seoonds.; 5/29/15, 8:50 AM
lemondog said...: Their are levels of depression.

People in inescapable pain focus on ridding the pain. They may be locked inside their own heads and have not the energy or awareness of their surroundings.; 5/29/15, 8:57 AM
MadisonMan said...: Dreadful for the man's family, and the people who viewed it.

Scott, I'm sorry you're not sleeping well and focusing on 9/11 and death. Wish I could help some way. Maybe I'll go eat some blueberries too.; 5/29/15, 9:09 AM
Helenhightops said...: >>>> lemondog said...
Their are levels of depression.

People in inescapable pain focus on ridding the pain. They may be locked inside their own heads and have not the energy or awareness of their surroundings.<<<<<

I am a doctor, and I have had at least seven friends commit suicide (and I suspect another medical school classmate, found dead at work, was also a suicide). Of the 64 people in the two residency classes ahead of me, three have died by their own hand. As lemondog points out, in the absence of psychosis, suicide is usually an attempt at problem solving. So many times I have thought that there were SO MANY PEOPLE who would have come to my friends if only they had said, "I am sick. I am tired. I am about to die. I am about to die." People they hardly knew would have come to them immediately. But they weren't thinking straight; they didn't know. If you are about to die, and you don't know what to do, GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM and tell them, "I am about to die." I get choked up just writing this.; 5/29/15, 9:13 AM
alan markus said...: Or a mess. Buy a body bag and a gun. Crawl in, zip up. Bang. No muss no fuss.

Reminds me of an elderly guy who lived down the street from my office. One day I was coming back from lunch and saw EMT/Police departments there - assumed it was typical scenario - either illness or dead. Anyway, what had happened was the guy was distraught - awhile before that he had been in a hit-and-run accident where he injured a motorcyclist. The family took his car away, in lieu of him getting charged (DA figured there might be competency issues). So, several weeks later, he decided to shoot himself. Being of good German heritage, he first put out the garbage because pickup was the next day. He did the deed in his garage (which no longer had a car in it), and in consideration of his family, had laid down some plastic. No use having his estate incur extra clean-up costs.; 5/29/15, 9:15 AM
Scott said...: Thank you Helen. What you wrote was needed.; 5/29/15, 9:19 AM
alan markus said...: I know "free speech" and all, but some comments do rise to the occasion of needing to be deleted. I think most everyone knows which one I am referring to.; 5/29/15, 9:26 AM
Kyzer SoSay said...: Better to leave it. Newcomers to this blog can see exactly what our resident far-leftist tool/troll thinks. They might as well be disgusted early on, it only goes downhill from here.; 5/29/15, 9:32 AM
Helenhightops said...: Scott, that nagging suspicion that you are chickenshit for not doing the deed is a manifestation of "intrusive thoughts". I was depressed in medical school, and I have had those accusatory intrusive thoughts. A patient told me alcoholics call this "The Committee". In my case, it was like being circled by wolves. I never heard voices, but I could understand how people COULD hear voices. You are NOT cowardly for not doing it. You retain insight. That is good.; 5/29/15, 9:37 AM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: Okay, there's something serious going on here.

I'm deleting my comments as inappropriately jocular.

Hey, you'll never hear me say my shit doesn't stink.; 5/29/15, 9:59 AM
Anonymous said...: The best way to kill yourself: row a rickety boat to the middle of the ocean, swallow some sleeping pills if you will, tie yourself to the boat, drill a big hole at the bottom of the boat. No grisly remains, environmentally friendly do-it-yourself funeral.; 5/29/15, 10:00 AM
alan markus said...: Sorry Eric Fruit Bat, did not mean you.; 5/29/15, 10:07 AM
Ignorance is Bliss said...: Scott-

Wishing you well. I hope you can find your way to a state where life is peaceful, pleasant, and enjoyable. Until then, please keep enduring. It is not a sign of chickenshittedness.; 5/29/15, 10:26 AM
rhhardin said...: You become a place when you die.; 5/29/15, 10:29 AM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: I deleted out of respect for Scott and Helenhightops.; 5/29/15, 10:50 AM
Helenhightops said...: @Eric - sweet gesture. No offense whatsoever taken, but thanks anyway.; 5/29/15, 11:11 AM
Rusty said...: Scott said...
I think about suicide all the time. I just don't think about doing it though. I think about what it must have been like at the World Trade Center, having to decide whether to be burned to death, or crushed to death by the collapsing building, or to jump 40 floors. It makes my knees shake. I have had a more intense fear of heights after 9/11.

I wrote a poem about exactly that. I got published somewhere. I no longer know where.; 5/29/15, 11:22 AM
CatherineM said...: To all the people saying that suicide is selfish don't understand that that the depressed person thinks no one cares and everyone will be better off with out them (therefore, solving problems).

The radio traffic report kept mentioning an accident in the tunnel for hours. Now I know why.; 5/29/15, 12:24 PM
chickelit said...: Mick said...

As for the bankers, many have killed themselves lately or have died in very mysterious circumstances--...

Just google "banker deaths"

This part is true; 5/29/15, 12:31 PM
JCC said...: In some circumstances, suicide may be a rational act. In other situations, it may be an act of pain and desperation that the rest of us just don't get. But anyone who, while taking their own life, unnecessarily inflicts trauma upon innocent persons, especially those susceptible by age or emotional connection, is just an ass*ole.

So if you feel it's just all too much, don't do it where your family or children will find you or see your remains. Being turned inside out has very little to recommend itself, aside from being memorable for all the wrong reasons.

And, although this is off-topic, should you consider suicide, a suggestion from personal experience: before you do, clean out all those secret things, the letters from your lover that your current spouse knows nothing about, the studded S&M black leather underwear and the giant green dildo your mother will find in the closet, that wet t-shirt photo from when you entertained the football team, etc. Let these things remain secret after you're gone.; 5/29/15, 3:23 PM
Sydney said...: Does it seem like there are more suicides lately, or do we just talk about them more? A 12 year old girl in our area was found dead by hanging last week and ruled a suicide. A former fire chief in town killed himself a few months ago. I keep reading that rates of physician suicide are going up. When I hear about all of these suicides, I remember that the suicide rate in East Berlin during the days of the Iron Curtain were higher, too, and I wonder if there isn't a correlation to our current socioeconomic policies. People are starting to miss their freedom.; 5/29/15, 4:20 PM
Petunia said...: In Sydney there was a man, who's now died of old age, called The Angel of the Gap. His house was near a popular suicide spot and over the decades he saved hundreds of people simply by going up and talking to them, and offering them a cup of tea. Apart from someone with a terminal illness, or someone who's lost their family...things will almost always get better with time. Especially for younger people...I just want to tell the teenagers who think of killing themselves that their teenage situations almost certainly won't matter in a few years.; 5/29/15, 4:21 PM
Joe said...: Was he being bullied by the 99%?; 5/30/15, 9:20 PM