Game of Trust Death: Australian Diplomat Dies in Fall Off Balcony

An Australian diplomat with the United Nations fell to his death from his balcony in New York during a drunken trust game with his friend.

Julian Simpson, 30, reportedly sat on the seventh-floor balcony railing of the building where he lived, then lost his balance and fell to a second floor landing around 1:35 a.m. Wednesday, according to the New York Post. He had returned from a late dinner and drinks with his wife and another couple.

The foursome had decided to go up to the roof deck to look at the Empire State Building, which was lit in rainbow colors to celebrate Australia’s planned upcoming same-sex marriage vote, the Post reported.

Simpson, who was the second secretary to the UN for Australia, reportedly swung his friend’s wife around on the balcony, then put her down. After everyone went back inside Simpson’s apartment, his friend expressed jealousy over his actions and Simpson suggested the trust game on his balcony to show that he meant nothing untoward by his actions.

The others in the group all said they had been drinking, and smelled of alcohol, CBS New York reported. The man Simpson was trying to reassure said he tried to grab Simpson as he fell, but Simpson slipped through his grasp and fell.

Simpson was taken to Mt. Sinai Beth Israel hospital but was pronounced dead there. Investigators do not suspect foul play, the New York Post reported.

Australian embassy officials have not yet commented on the incident. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called Simpson’s death a “shocking tragedy” and said that “hearts go out to his family,” CBS reported.

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