Man Decides Not to Jump Off Ledge, Then Falls

Man Decides Not to Jump Off Ledge, Then Falls
By Derek Kravitz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, July 20, 2008; Page C05

A patient at George Washington University Hospital fell from a fifth-story ledge overlooking New Hampshire Avenue in Northwest Washington yesterday afternoon after threatening to jump for several hours, police said.

The man climbed onto the ledge about 12:15 p.m. and for four hours paced and peered at the ground. He fell just before 4:10 p.m. after trying to climb down. The man lost his footing as he tried to move down the building and briefly hung off the ledge by only his hands before falling feet first.

His body partially hit the concrete and a large inflatable air mattress police had set up while trying to coax him down, police said.
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