The Skywalk tour at Sydney’s Centrepoint Tower closed yesterday until further notice after a young man leapt off it and plunged over 250 metres to his doom on Sunday evening – the second such death in four months.
A notice posted on the attraction’s website yesterday said: “Please be advised that SKYWALK is closed until further notice. We apologise for the inconvenience and will keep you updated. The Observation Deck will be open from 12pm today (Monday 9th July) and normal opening hours will resume from tomorrow (Tuesday 10th July).”
Following the latest tragedy, some people are pressing for the attraction to be closed permanently – with others arguing just as persuasively that the prime issue is mental health and treatment, rather than adventure attractions.
“I’m deeply saddened by this news and would suggest that it is time to close the attraction for good,” one Facebook user posted.
Others disagreed.
If we close #sydney tower do we close the #harbourbridge &all places ppl may jump from? #auspol pic.twitter.com/OlXH8rVnFb
— Lynda_The_Mundane (@LMildwater) July 9, 2018
Emergency crews rushed to the tower at 7pm on Sunday after callers said someone had jumped. Reports also came through that the Skywalk tour had been closed earlier on the same day because of strong gusting winds that swept Sydney and the NSW coast.
Notice on Sydney Tower website yesterday
In March, Sydney police placed busy Pitt Street in lockdown after a woman visitor to Skywalk unclipped her safety harness and jumped to her death in front of horrified onlookers. See: Sydney lockdown as visitor plunges to death from Skywalk
New safety measures were put in place afterwards, with full-body restraint harnesses provided.
While most people are inspired by tall iconic structures and the views from them – edifices such as the Empire State building, Eiffel Tower and Sydney Tower – a few individuals, sadly, consider them suitable points of permanent departure. Closing off the world’s high places does not seem practical, though all attractions should be as safe as the operators can make them.
Family fun beckons, just last week
NSW Police said yesterday their inquiries suggested Sunday’s incident was “self-harm related” and that a report would be prepared for the coroner.
Sometimes there is a copycat element in suicides but that’s something for the police and coroner to investigate.
Any readers seeking support and/or information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.
Written by Peter Needham
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Please, not again! Stop even talking about taking something from the innocent majority because of a tiny minority. Let’s just close down the entire Sydney rail system because they get more suicides than Skywalk. But that’d still leave buses that people could throw themselves in front of.
Please, not again! Stop even talking about taking something from the innocent majority because of a tiny minority. Let’s just close down the entire Sydney rail system because they get more suicides than Skywalk. But that’d still leave buses that people could throw themselves in front of.