Man rescued after dangling from Auckland skyscraper with parachute
Tuesday 20 October 2026 · 3 outlets · 4 reports · updated In this story Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Emergency services rescued a man who became stranded on the facade of an Albert Street building in central Auckland. The individual was caught by a parachute approximately 23 to 25 storeys above the ground. Following a high-angle rope rescue, the person was reported to have sustained minor injuries.
Key facts
4 facts
- The incident occurred on Albert Street at the Hotel Indigo building.
- Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 10.40pm.
- The person was rescued from between the 20th and 25th floors.
- The man sustained minor injuries and did not need hospitalisation.
The full story
1 min read · 3 outlets
A man was rescued late Tuesday night after becoming stuck on the exterior of the Hotel Indigo building on Albert Street in central Auckland. The individual, who appeared to have a parachute, was positioned between 20 and 25 storeys above the ground. Rescuers eventually pulled the man into an apartment through a window.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand activated a high-angle rope rescue response with specialist crews to reach the person. During the operation, responders smashed a window to retrieve the man. One reporter noted, “He's currently holding onto a rope, so it seems like there's no risk of him falling, but it's quite dramatic scenes down here”.
Hato Hone St John responded to the scene at approximately 10.40pm, sending an ambulance, a rapid-response unit, and an operations manager. The man was treated for minor injuries but did not require transport to a hospital.
Approximately 50 people gathered on the surrounding streets to watch the rescue, cheering as the man was brought to safety. It remains unclear how the individual became stuck.
Where reports differ
- Reports vary on the exact floor the man was trapped, with some citing the 23rd story and others stating between 20 and 25 floors.
Compiled from reports by NZ Herald, Stuff and RNZ.
