A 23-year-old Cornell student fell from a third-story apartment at 614 Seneca St. on Friday night and was airlifted from the scene, according to the Ithaca Police Department. The student, whose name was not released by the University, has since been discharged from the hospital.
Paul Drake, manager of the building, said he heard a loud crash and immediately ran outside to find the victim lying in a narrow alley between 614 Seneca St. and the adjacent house. The victim was unresponsive and had large gashes to his arm and head, Drake said.
“To see his body down and crumpled in that way was just awful,” Drake said.
When Drake responded, the victim was breathing and groaning but not moving, he said.
“It just floored me,” Drake said. “I was trying to sleep last night, but I couldn’t. I just kept thinking of that image of him twisted in the alley.”
Drake said that the people in the apartment were drinking and sitting on the balcony railing earlier. Tenants had told him that the victim fell after he fell asleep on the balcony railing.
Drake said that he had previously instructed the tenants not to sit on the railing.
“We’ve been telling people forever, you’re not to play out there,” he said.
The Ithaca police responded to the scene at 7:40 p.m. An initial investigation yielded no evidence of foul play, according to a police press release.
Jeff Stein contributed reporting to this article
Original Author: Juan Forrer