A man jumped to his death from a construction crane in Surrey Thursday evening.
The tragic incident unfolded in front of police and multiple witnesses in the Whalley area, says Surrey RCMP Staff Sgt. Joe Johal.
About 6:20 p.m., an officer spotted a man who climbed over a fence and into a construction site on Whalley Boulevard. When the officer called out to the man, he ran and climbed to the top of a 40-storey crane.
"Numerous units and agencies were deployed to assist, including the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team, a crisis negotiator, and Surrey RCMP’s Car 67, which pairs a police officer with a mental health nurse," Johal says in a press release.
However, their attempts to talk the man down were unsuccessful, and the man jumped from the crane shortly after 10 p.m. He did not survive.
“There were many witnesses to this incident, members of the public, and media,” said Cpl Elenore Sturko, Surrey RCMP media relations officer. “Witnessing a tragedy can be very impactful and emotionally disturbing. We would like to encourage anyone who may need help as a result of witnessing this incident to reach out to their health-care provider.”
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