By RK Shih / Staff
KAOHSIUNG — A 23-year-old man surnamed Luo (羅) died after apparently falling from the fourth floor of a residential building onto a second-floor skylight in Kaohsiung, where he remained overnight before being discovered the following afternoon, police said.
According to investigators, Luo had been drinking with friends late Thursday night before the group continued socializing at a Tongmeng Road townhouse, reportedly the rented residence of an American national. After becoming heavily intoxicated, Luo was escorted to a fourth-floor bedroom to rest.
At around 2 p.m. Friday (Feb. 6), the host awoke and noticed Luo was no longer in the room. A window was found open. Looking down, Luo was discovered lying unresponsive on a second-floor skylight, indicating he had fallen approximately two floors.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene and used ladders to reach the skylight. Although no obvious external injuries were visible, Luo was not breathing and did not have a heartbeat. Firefighters removed a second-floor window and transported him indoors using a backboard before rushing him to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Police said Luo may have fallen while disoriented or experiencing an alcohol-induced blackout, though the exact cause of the fall remains under investigation. Prosecutors have ordered a post-mortem examination to determine the precise cause of death.
Luo’s mother rushed to the hospital after being notified and was reportedly distraught upon learning that her son had died just days before the Lunar New Year holiday. Authorities emphasized that the case is being treated as an accident pending further forensic findings.
With the Lunar New Year holiday period approaching, police are urging the public to drink responsibly. Excessive alcohol consumption should be avoided, especially in unfamiliar environments, authorities added.
Source: UDN
