Teen critically injured in hotel balcony fall

The Glebe Apartments. Photo by Paul Taylor
The Glebe Apartments. Photo by Paul Taylor
An Australian teenager remains in a critical condition after falling from a Queenstown hotel balcony.

The 19-year-old from New South Wales fell from the second floor of The Glebe Apartments and landed in the car park below, sustaining a major head injury.

He was found by the night manager shortly before 3am and taken by helicopter to Dunedin Hospital

The teenager is the second person to fall from the Stanley Street hotel and apartment complex in recent years.

"He was making his way from his second floor apartment towards the roof," senior constable Chris Blackford says.

"He fell to the car park below and suffered a major head injury.

"His condition is described as critical."

The teenager's parents are flying over from Australia this morning.

Police couldn't confirm the height the youngster fell from but the second floor is at least 6m from the car park.

In 2008, Invercargill electrician Shaun Hogan (24) fell to his death at The Glebe after gaining access to the courtyard and climbing to the roof.

Queenstown construction worker Andy Pearson (25) suffered chest and pelvic injuries after he slipped and fell from the third floor of The Glebe when it was being built in 2003.

And in 2009, English backpacker James Smith (25) fell about 10m to his death from the roof of Base Backpackers on Shotover Street, Queenstown.

- by Paul Taylor 

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