Man dies after falling from 20th floor balcony while shaking out blanket
A man in his 20s is confirmed dead after falling from an apartment in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, while shaking out bedding. Yonhap
A man in his 20s died after falling from a high-rise apartment balcony while shaking out a blanket, police said Wednesday.
According to police and fire authorities, at around 1 p.m. on Nov. 18, a resident in the Onam area of Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, reported finding a man lying unconscious in the flower bed of an apartment complex. He was discovered with severe injuries across his body and in cardiac arrest.
Emergency responders rushed him to a nearby hospital, but he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Authorities found a blanket on the ground near the scene and believe the man, who lived on the 20th floor of the building, likely fell while shaking it out on his balcony. Police are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident.
Fatal falls during blanket shaking from high-rise balconies occur repeatedly each year in Korea. In 2021, a woman in her 60s died after falling from the 13th floor of an apartment building in North Chungcheong Province while shaking out her bedding.
Safety specialists warn that residents should always check whether their balcony railing reaches above their navel before leaning out.
Fire officials note that balcony railings are typically around 120 centimeters high — above the average person’s navel — making falls unlikely under normal conditions. However, when people lean forward to shake out blankets, their center of gravity can shift beyond the railing, especially if the railing is positioned below the navel. Strong winds can further increase the risk of falling for residents of high-rise buildings.
This article is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.