A New Jersey college student fell to his death as he and a friend tried to climb up the side of the NYC's Four Seasons Hotel in Midtown on Wednesday, police said. Records indicate that the student, 24-year-old Connor Cummings, was not a guest at the Four Seasons at the time of the tragedy, reported the New York Post.
However, he and his friend managed to gain access to "some sort of scaffolding" and used it as a foothold to climb up the 52-story building at around 11:00 p.m. His intention was to take a "panoramic" photograph of the Manhattan skyline, however due to the rain, he slipped and fell down nine stories until he landed on the lower-level rooftops of the luxury hotel.
Police and emergency workers were called to the hotel at 57 East 57th Street at around 11:15 p.m. and pronounced him dead at the scene, according to the Gothamist.
His friend, 18-year-old buddy Dimitri Oliveras, was the one who revealed the entire incident. He initally panicked and tried to flee the scene in a taxi, but only managed to get 10 blocks away before he changed his mind and contacted both his mother and hotel security, who then called 911.
He was questioned early Thursday and was released without any charges.
In the meantime, the Four Seasons issued a statement expressing sadness and said it's cooperating with an ongoing investigation, according to NBC News.
"The safety and security of our guests, patrons and employees is a top priority for us," the statement said. "Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased and we extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to them."
