Man survives after jumping into North Pool at 9/11 memorial only to be arrested
Warning: Article contains content some readers may find distressing
A bloodied man who jumped into the North Pool at the 9/11 memorial in New York City shockingly survived the 20 feet fall.
The incident occurred at the base of the former World Trade Centre buildings in Lower Manhattan earlier this week on October 9 just before 1.30 P.M. local time, according to reports.
Multiple videos from different vantage points have begun to pop up on social media.
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The 33-year-old is seen walking towards the void in the middle of the pool after reportedly jumping into the first 30 foot waterfall in the centre of the 9/11 memorial North Pool.
Much to the distress of onlookers, the man is seen lying flat on the ledge before edging himself forward, face first, deeper into the waterfall.
The man continues to inch himself deeper before completely falling down the 20 foot drop as onlookers shout and scream in panic.
A small pool of blood is seen on the ledge after the man's fall, suggesting he was injured prior to the jump.
The man was described by a port authority spokesperson as being an ‘emotionally disturbed person’, according to an NBC News report.
It is currently not known why he jumped, nor is it known why he was injured.
After the incident, the jumper was seen by emergency service workers and taken to Bellevue Hospital - he suffered a leg injury, but is believed to be a in a stable condition.
The man in the video has since been charged with criminal mischief and trespassing as police continue an investigation into the incident.
The 9/11 memorial pools were designed by Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker and were chosen in early 2004.
“Their design features twin waterfall pools surrounded by bronze parapets that list the names of the victims of the 9/11 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing,” the memorial and museum website read.
The pools are set within a plaza where more than 400 swamp white oak trees grow and the public have had unrestricted access to the area since it opened on September 11, 2011.
UNILAD has contacted the New York City Police Department for comment.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
You can also call 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746 at the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline.
Gerrard Kaonga