Late this afternoon, outside the window of my office,
Last edited Fri Jan 16, 2015, 04:48 AM - Edit history (1)
a 20 year-old woman plunged to her death from an eighth floor window, striking a passerby and injuring her badly. At first, we thought it was a suicide, but later reports are that she may have been cleaning her window. This was one of the most horrifying moments of my life, and in addition to the blanket horror and terrible irony, it shows how quickly everything in your life can change, even fade to black. Imagine the sudden realization that one has lost ones balance and falling inexorably and inevitably to the ground below in just a couple of seconds, knowing that you are going to die, having no thought of that just prior.
I have to have a drink and take it easy…this is going to give me nightmares for a long, long time.
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Sending you warm, happy thoughts and a big virtual hug. 
((((
)))) !!!
How truly horrifying indeed. I hope she lost consciousness before she hit...
Here's a big hug and some warm vibes for you...I hope you can get through this without trouble.
you good vibes and lots of
the "I never thought it could happen to me" folk always amaze me - I wonder what makes them think they are so special. 
Makes me kind of glad I don't sit next to a window where I work. 
You don't say how old you were or who "we" are but I hope that you or anyone with you were children at the time. Witnessing a death is something you never forget.
My buddy and I. 18 or 19, were starting to wade into a popular and crowded swimming hole, 140' below one of the campus's three (!) notorious jumping bridges. We heard a loud BANG! that sounded like it was vaguely behind us, but it's hard to localize sound in a gorge (sound bounces around) and it was July 3rd so I figured some nitwit had tossed a large firecracker somewhere in the area.
Then people started pointing at us and screaming, screaming, screaming. This was very disorienting. What had we done?
Turns out that they weren't actually pointing at us, but at the rocks behind and above us where the unfortunate victim had hit.
Things continued to grow weirder after that, we helped the cops (campus and city) a little in the "rescue", I'll spare you the details.
For a few days after I was... well, I don't know how to describe it. Reflective? A little dead in the soul? Then angry. That's a pattern I noticed in others who witnessed the aftermath of similar suicides.
I don't think it was a student - most jumpers were from nearby towns, come for a final trespass.
Thanks for caring
What a horrible thing. What a horrible, horrible thing to go through.
So many people obviously were changed from this one person, who evidently thought so little of his life that he couldn't live it any longer and didn't care, or at least think about, what it would do to everyone that was around at the time.
Just like it's normal when someone we love or care deeply about dies or suffers something horrific.
So glad you made it through.
I've read what you experienced from others. I find the coping mechanisms our brains use absolutely fascinating. Your mind drove you from the fear. And when a person does suffer something that is near death, something like the OP where she lived, most people don't remember the moment. Our brains protect us.
son, an electrician, and many other construction workers were horrified to watch one of the temp workers working with them commit suicide by jumping to his death from the 10th floor of their unfinished building. It's traumatic for everyone.
....
and on the other news outlets. Hang in there... It can't be easy to shake.
I know a couple years ago about a mile and a half from where you are, the multi-level parking garage next to where I park had someone leap from the roof level and land literally about 30 ft from my car. I was still in the office at the time but a couple co-workers were out there and saw (and unfortunately "heard"
it happen. By the time I walked past there to leave for the day, there was a sheet over the body and we didn't know there was actually a "body" under the sheet until the next day when the co-workers described what happened. Later the same year, someone else apparently did the same. I know this was a different circumstance from what happened where you were, but It's still shocking and just so sad.
"Fluffian". 
How awful! I hope I never end up witnessing anything so tragic. Horrible enough to see such things on film but to see it in person. Just awful.
I really feel for you.
big, long 
Although you did not know her, you have become part of a larger family that will struggle to heal from this tragedy. Sending you support and condolences.
I still think of the woman I tried to help. take care. 
Get with some loved ones asap and talk it out. You're traumatized. Treat that seriously. You don't want it to take a greater toll on your psyche than it has to. If you can and you're up to it, maybe seek out her loved ones and offer them support. Helping others is really very healing. Sending hugs and good thoughts your way. Do not let this fester, sweetie.
my youngest son's sudden death a little over a year ago. He was twenty-nine, worked hard to attain a decent life for his beautiful family and was blooming into a fine man, when suddenly he died in his sleep of a heart attack.
Life can end in an instant and it's devastating for those left behind to deal with the agonizing sudden loss of a young, vibrant life. This poor girl's family will have some very tough days ahead. My thoughts are with them, and the poor woman who was also injured in this tragic accident.
I'm sorry for your pain as well, PCIntern, and hope this tragic experience leaves you with a greater appreciation for how precious every second of life is, and to never take it or your loved ones for granted.
Take care.
heard a thump and yells of pain. Another student had jumped from the 8th floor in a suicide attempt but he landed on a bush and was not killed instantly. It put the pressure of mid terms into perspective.
Few of us know when our number will be called -- "Don't postpone joy."
As it is generally a way to relieve a bad situation but with this tragedy it would be morally indecent of me to do so.
So;
Your witnessing that, My mind jumps to my having been involved
with several things like that as well. Odd how the mind looks back to the points in your own life when you read about someones else's tragedy's
Glad you're here. It's hard to know where to begin. This is one of the real unexpected blessings of DU - how people come together to comfort. To sympathize. To empathize. It's sorely needed, and there are times when it seems like the only place you can turn - is to this DU community. Only one of MANY reasons why I'm glad I found this site. I'm glad PCIntern is sharing such deep, profound, and painful feelings. I'm glad people post here when they just lost a loved one, or something else bad that's happened. I'm glad they reach out. Skittles said it so well, awhile back - "someone's always here." And it just always seems to be someone with a gentle, open heart and a pair of strong, broad, sturdy shoulders.
to PCIntern, to SHRED, to Oilwellian - to everyone on this thread who's dealing with a great shock or a deep sorrow.
Just a guess, but like many of us on this thread that are reminded of things we witnessed and/or things that happened to us, I suspect that is true for you too.
I have seen that kind of support here. I am glad those responses helped you.
I had a similar experience when my father died. But that was on Facebook. What was amazing was that some real life friends didn't come to his memorial service but a "Facebook friend" did. Now, a real life friend. I think some people don't understand that a memorial service is as important as a wake or funeral.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Thank you for this.
I simply can't imagine the horror. If I were you, dear PCIntern, I'd allow myself to have more than "a drink" on such an occasion. Such a terrible tragedy.
On another note, I cannot understand the logic of washing windows that are too high to reach with a power washer. If the window doesn't open so that it can be cleaned from the interior, it's simply not worth the risk. My thoughts and prayers are certainly with the poor lady, her unfortunate victim, and all who were affected or impacted by this tragedy.
I was walking across the street, a side street, in a cross walk, when a car came around a corner and straight at me. Though I don't recall being hit, I do recall thinking "oh shit!"
Next thing I remember is telling some good samaritan, "if you get me help I won't tell them it was you." To which he replied, as he held me gently in his arms, "ok. Help is on the way." And he kinda chuckled. Next memory is in the hospital.
I never did find out who that guy was. He evidently came out of nowhere. Another driver, who saw it happen because he was checking me out in his review mirror, asked this guy if he could stay with me while he, the driver, chased down the guy that hit me and left me for dead on the middle of the road. The first guy said he planned to and had called an ambulance.
I also witnessed this " motorcyclist) went airborne 150 to 200 feet forward off the expressway and then about 75 feet down, landing on West 27th Street" http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-12FF510C63B6DA50.html
It happened right in front of me. I am a biker but I was in my car that day. He cut right in front of me and I watched him loose control of the bike. He tried to regain control and almost had it. Then his bike went almost full 90 degree on the barrier to the streets below, righted itself straight, his leg hit the barrier and he went flying. I think I just screamed for a minute. His bike was right in front of my car and he was nowhere to be seen. His fellow bikers came up and started looking for him. I was on the phone with 911 and I shouted "he's down there! He's down there!" He had landed on one of the streets below, on his side, in exactly the same position he was on his bike. As other people came out of their cars, there were many tears.
Unbelievably, he lived. I called the hospital when I found out where they had taken him. I asked the nurse to please let him know that people care. She told me "I can tell you I will give him the message and I can tell you he will understand it."
I have no idea what his recovery was or if he can even walk. But he lived and without brain damage.
I'm sorry for what you saw today. I am sorry that you had to witness it. I can tell you that it will stay with you. You just can't allow it to change you.
