Israeli man climbs Eiffel Tower, jumps to his death
The scene at the Champs de Mars near the Eiffel Tower was calm with families picnicking and lovers smooching on the night of May 23, 2010. A strong police presence was meant to deter a large would-be cocktail party organized through Facebook.
A 25-year-old Israeli man climbed the Eiffel Tower and jumped to his death after out manuevering security, the Associated Press reported.
The Daily Mail reported security was stepped up around the Eiffel Tower on Monday but remained open to the public, as usual.
According to Paris police, the man – who climbed the tower after it closed Sunday night – was approaching the third-level observatory deck about 906 feet up when rescue climbers arrived on the scene, the AP wrote.
Rescue workers said despite their presence, he jumped soon after midnight Monday and died immediately when he hit the observation deck's second level.
“He jumped into the air. … It was not an accidental fall,” Paris prosecutor’s spokeswoman Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre said.
A woman attempted a copycat suicide Monday morning but that failed when the authorities used a helicopter to stop her, the Daily Mail explained.
7 million people visit the Eiffel Tower each year.