OCEAN CITY — After a third balcony fall in as many weeks on Tuesday, Ocean City officials continued to hammer home the importance of patio and railing safety.
Around 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Ocean City Police and Emergency Medical Services responded to the area of 70th Street for a reported fall from a second-floor balcony. The officers and EMS were able to determine through several witnesses that the victim, a 20-year-old male from Myersville, Md., attempted to sit on the top of the railing and fell back over the ground about 15 feet below.
Initially, a call was put out for the Maryland State Police Trooper 4 helicopter to transport the victim, who had suffered an apparent head injury. However, that call was rescinded and the victim was transported to PRMC via ambulance. As of late Wednesday, the victim’s condition was not known. According to Ocean City officials, the victim was believed to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the fall.
Tuesday’s incident was the third reported balcony fall of the young season in the resort. On May 14, OCPD officers responded to a hotel in the area of 25th Street and Baltimore Ave. after a 23-year-old West Virginia man fell from a third-floor balcony. The victim has been identified as Patrick Thomas, 23, of Inwood, West Va. During the investigation, officers learned the victim had been reaching over the railing to a balcony below before falling approximately 21 feet to the ground. Alcohol is believed to have been a factor.
The victim was treated on the scene first by OCPD officers until Ocean City EMS arrived and was transported to PRMC in Salisbury via Maryland State Police helicopter Trooper 4. He was later flown to Shock Trauma in Baltimore and was listed in critical condition, although an update on his condition has not been made available.
Around 3:20 p.m. on May 22, Ocean City Police and Emergency Services responded to the area of the Excaliber condominium on 132nd Street after a citizen discovered an unconscious man near the entrance to the 10-story building. Shortly after their arrival, Ocean City EMS determined the individual identified as a 51-year-old Ocean City man to be deceased.
The Ocean City Police Criminal Investigation Division conducted an investigation and determined the victim had jumped off the building from a significant height. The Maryland Medical Examiner’s Office has determined the manner of death to be suicide.
While the latter was a reported suicide, the first incident three weeks ago and Tuesday’s incident were accidents and an all-too familiar occurrence during the busy summer season in the resort. Ocean City Police and Emergency Services respond to a handful of balcony falls each season and most are avoidable.
“We hope people that come to Ocean City, have a great time and carry on, but don’t get carried away,” said Ocean City Communications Manager Jessica Waters this week. “Unfortunately, public safety departments respond to significant and life-threatening injuries from people falling over railings, which are completely preventable. It’s imperative not to stand on, sit on or lean over railings as these are the most common accidents involving railings.”
The OCPD offered several balcony safety tips this week. As mentioned, never reach over balconies and never attempt to go from balcony to balcony. If one wants to get to another room, take the elevator or walk down the hall. In addition, parents are encouraged to prevent children from being on a balcony alone and install wire meshing or some other barrier to prevent children from falling.