Teenager plunges to his death from 21st floor in Sharjah

SHARJAH // A 16-year-old boy plunged to his death from the 21st floor of his apartment block after losing his balance while taking photos.

Police were called at about 6pm on Tuesday and told a boy had fallen from the building, his family's home, in Al Majjaz.

"Our ambulances and rescue team rushed to the scene only to find that the boy had already lost his life," said Maj Yousef Obaid Al Harmour of Sharjah Police. "It was an accident with no crime behind it."

Maj Al Harmour said the young American had tried to climb a metal pole to take photographs but lost his balance and fell.

A pharmacist in the neighbouring Ibn Sinna pharmacy said: "I just stayed here and couldn't bear to go and see it as police carried the body away.

"The words coming from the neighbours who went to the scene scared me more - I could just bury my face in my hands and cry."

Maj Harmour appealed to building owners and tenants to exercise strict caution in all high-rise buildings and ensure that all safety measures were in place.

"We appeal mostly to parents not to leave their children unattended and ensure also that all balconies are well sealed," Maj Harmour said.

This was the third such death in the past few weeks.

On Monday, an Indian woman fell to her death in Rashidiya, and last month a five-year-old boy died when he fell in Nuaimiya Ajman near GMC hospital.

ykakande@thenational.ae