THIS is the jaw-dropping moment a woman precariously balanced high above the ground, cleaning her windows as horrified passersby watched in disbelief.
Shocking footage shows the woman dicing with death as she perches on a narrow ledge of the 16th floor outside a Gold Coast apartment block.
The resident of Peninsula Apartments on Clifford Street appeared determined to clean her windows despite the obvious and immediate danger.
The woman can be seen climbing out the window, placing a chair on the ledge and casually stepping on top of it.
Seemingly unfazed, she then proceeds to carefully wipe down the glass.
The person filming said they could not believe what they were witnessing and quickly called police to report the incident.
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However, no authorities arrived.
The clip has since gone viral on social media, with many users expressing disbelief at how close the woman came to serious harm.
“A bit of wind and the only thing that’s getting cleaned is the footpath,” one user wrote.
Another added: “Wouldn’t trust those chairs.”
The incident has also sparked renewed debate around building safety.
Ann Wason Moore addressed the issue in an op-ed for The Gold Coast Bulletin, calling for greater common sense around personal safety.
Others shared personal experiences.
One individual recalled staying at a nearby Hilton hotel several years ago when someone died after standing on a chair on the 40th floor while attempting to clean the roof.
This account prompted questions about how such a dangerous architectural designs could be legal.
According to Moore, they are not – at least not in newer buildings.
“Since May 2013, the Australian Building Code has required protection on any openable window with a fall of two metres or more to prevent people, particularly children, from falling through,” she wrote.
“However, the rule is not retrospective, meaning older buildings only need to comply if major modifications are made, not routine maintenance.”
The risks associated with falls in the home are well documented.
Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows avoidable household injuries are a major cause of hospital visits and, in some cases, death.
In 2022–23, falls were the leading cause of injury-related deaths for both men and women.
In 2023–24 alone, falls resulted in approximately 248,000 hospitalisations – accounting for around 40 per cent of all injury-related admissions.
Sadly, this phenomenon is not limited to Australia.
In November, a two-year-old boy died after falling from the 20th floor of an apartment block in New Jersey.
The cops received reports of an injured toddler around 7am on Saturday before emergency services rushed to the scene.
The boy was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.