Paris – A 25-year-old man from Israel jumped to his death from the Eiffel Tower after thwarting security measures and climbing the Paris monument at twilight, authorities said Monday.
The man, who was not publicly identified, mounted the tower’s western pillar after it was closed to the public Sunday night, a Paris police official said. The man was approaching the third-level observatory deck of the tower, at 276 meters (906 feet), when rescue climbers made it to the scene, the official said.
The rescue climbers starting talking to him but then he jumped, landed on the tower’s second floor and died on impact, soon after midnight Monday, the official said. The official was not authorized to be publicly named because of police policy.
“He jumped into the air. … It was not an accidental fall,” Paris prosecutor’s spokeswoman Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre said. She said he was born in Israel and had an Israeli passport. It is unclear whether he was a tourist.
The tower was open as usual Monday after the incident. The company that manages the 324-meter- (1063-feet-) high tower says it was the first suicide there in two years. The company said such incidents are very rare but would not provide historical figures for how often they occur.
Some 7 million people visit the Eiffel Tower every year.
HaShem Yerachem! What terrible news.
For what it’s worth, I am at a loss to understand how the poor man managed to do such a thing. I have visited the Eiffel Tower several times, and I found the security arrangements to be otherwise excellent.
Is it permissible al pi halocho to do this? Did he consult with a rabbi?
To #2 - You are one sick, depraved individual, making such derogatory comments, following this tragedy. The deceased was someone’s son. Even before his levaya, you are engaging in such horrible comments!
Comment #2 , whether serious or not, comes off as making light of a tragic situation and is in very poor taste. Suicide is not funny. Ever.
nebach….so sad.
To all you bashing me. After all I made no comments but only asked a question and you all got so upset about it. The mishne in avos says “ve’loi habashen lomad” some one who is ashamed to ask will never learn. This is exactly what I did and it was intended to the one who will give an answer but you all instead of giving me an answer you made fun of me. You know what, I love it that you got upset and I am waiting for more of the same. so please keep it up you angry people I enjoy what YOU do.
Why are we ALL playing into #2 ’s follie? Just ignore him, he’ll go away. I promise…
Y don’t they give out the name?
a) not all israeli citizens with Israeli passports are Jewish.
b) at least we could confirm his Jewish identity thereby giving him Jewish burial and
c) saying tehillim for him.
#16 HIs name was Mr Mayerfreund