Church selfie fall death
POLICE have launched an investigation into whether a tourist who died after falling about 10 metres through a skylight at a Gold Coast church was trying to take a selfie in the lead up to the fatality.
It’s understood the 23-yearold, believed to be from the United Kingdom, was on the roof of St Vincent’s Catholic Church in Surfers Paradise with a friend when he fell through the skylight about 2am on Sunday. Two other people are thought to have been on the ground watching when the man fell to his death.
It’s believed his friend who was on the roof with him, smashed a window to get into the church to help him before paramedics were called.
The man could not be saved and died inside the church. Investigators are looking into whether alcohol was a factor.
Visiting priest Warren Kinne said the 8am and 10am masses were cancelled following the tragedy.
“The priest in charge sent me a text about 3am and said there’d been a misadventure in the church that someone had fallen through the skylight onto the sanctuary,” he said.
“It’s very sad for the person who died. Whatever they were doing on the roof. I don’t know and have fallen through to (their) death. It is very sad for the family so we are sorry to hear and will pray for them.”
The church and footpath outside where blood was also found was being cleaned yesterday morning.
“There was glass all on one side and blood around the organ,” he said.
Fr Kinne was informing people of the incident yesterday and offered alternative services to attend.
“Some people are quite upset – everyone is surprised, people are sad too,” he said.
Police said a 26-year-old man was found intoxicated near the church and was taken to hospital in a stable condition.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.