Belgian base-jumper arrested after rescue from Auckland hotel

Belgian Base-Jumper Suspended From Auckland Hotel After Parachute Malfunction

A 22-year-old Belgian tourist was rescued and subsequently arrested after his base jump from the 27th floor of the Hotel Indigo in Auckland went awry on Tuesday night, October 21, 2026, leaving him hanging from a metal structure on the 23rd floor.

The Tech TL;DR:

Incident Date: Tuesday night, October 21, 2026, at approximately 22:40 local time.
Location: Hotel Indigo, Auckland, New Zealand, spanning floors 27 through 23.
Legal Status: The individual was arrested at the scene and scheduled to appear in an Auckland court on October 27, 2026.

Parachute Malfunction Triggers Emergency Response at Hotel Indigo

The jump did not go as planned, the tourist told local media outlet 1News. Upon deployment from the 27th floor, his parachute twisted and propelled him directly against the building facade. The fabric snagged on a metal structure, leaving the jumper dangling at the 23rd floor level. Uninjured, he managed to grip the building’s exterior while awaiting emergency crews.

Emergency services received alerts at approximately 22:40 and spent nearly an hour executing the rescue operation. A specialized team had to physically remove a window to pull the jumper back inside the structure. According to the New Zealand Police, the rescue required breaking a glass pane valued at approximately 20,000 New Zealand dollars (about 9,000 Swiss francs) and disrupted hotel guests.

BASE jumper arrested after high-rise rescue in Auckland | Stuff.co.nz

Tourist Faces Court After Second Auckland Building Jump

Investigators discovered that the same tourist allegedly jumped from another Auckland building in September, with video footage of that descent previously circulated on social media, according to Stuff. Following the Tuesday rescue, the young man issued an apology and thanked emergency personnel.

New Zealand Police condemned the actions as irresponsible and dangerous for both the jumper and individuals on the ground. Facing prosecution, the tourist remains in New Zealand and is ordered to appear before an Auckland court on October 27, 2026.