GEORGE TOWN: A 78-year-old man and a neighbour who tried to save him were rescued from a 14th-floor apartment ledge on Saturday afternoon (Aug 22) after a sudden fear of heights left them stuck.
The ordeal began in Jelutong when the elderly resident, mistakenly believing he was locked inside his unit, climbed out a window onto the narrow ledge to reach his front door.
Noticing the elderly man in distress, a 50-year-old neighbour climbed onto the ledge to help him. However, both men quickly realised the extreme height and danger, becoming too terrified to move or return inside.
Penang Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations John Sagun Francis said authorities were alerted at 1.36pm after a third neighbour spotted the pair sitting on the ledge.
"Rescuers managed to save both men by entering the senior citizen's home," John said on Saturday. "His door was actually unlocked, allowing officers to enter and pull them back through the window."
Both men were unhurt. The case has been handed over to the police, and authorities have urged the public to avoid taking extreme risks in high-rise environments.
