Daredevil Tourist Left Hanging 23 Stories Over Auckland Street After Parachute Snag

It started as a typical adrenaline‑seeker’s day in Auckland – clear skies, a wind that felt just right, and a hotel rooftop that promised a spectacular view. For 22‑year‑old Joren Van den Berg, a tourist from Belgium, that view turned into a near‑disaster when his parachute snagged on the gleaming façade of Hotel Indigo.

Van den Berg had set up a BASE jump from the 27th floor, a daring move that many would call reckless. He leapt, the canopy unfurled, and for a heartbeat everything seemed to be going according to plan. Then the parachute tangled on a massive glass panel – a $20,000 piece that was part of the hotel’s modern exterior.

Suddenly, he was hanging there, literally, 23 stories above a bustling street filled with traffic, pedestrians and the occasional startled cyclist. Onlookers gasped, phones were whipped out, and a thin line of emergency vehicles began to form.

Firefighters arrived on the scene and, after assessing the situation, made the split‑second decision to break the glass. The panel shattered with a loud crack, sending shards scattering onto the street below – a dramatic, if messy, solution that ultimately allowed rescuers to lower a rope and bring the tourist safely to the ground.

“We’ve never had to smash a window of that size for a rescue,” said one firefighter, still shaking his head as he surveyed the broken pane. “But the safety of the people below, and the jumper, came first.”

Once on the pavement, Van den Berg was taken into custody. Local police confirmed he would face charges related to illegal BASE jumping and endangering public safety. The tourist later told reporters he “didn’t think anything could go wrong,” a sentiment that, in hindsight, was far from the truth.

The incident sparked a flurry of discussion on social media, with some users praising the quick work of the fire crews, while others warned that such stunts are nothing short of hazardous. Hotel Indigo issued a statement saying it was “deeply concerned” by the episode and would review its rooftop access policies.

For Auckland residents, the event was a stark reminder that even in a city known for its laid‑back vibe, extreme sports can quickly turn into emergency situations. As for the broken glass, it now sits in a police evidence bag – a shiny souvenir of a daring, yet reckless, moment that could have ended very differently.