An Australian diplomat has died after falling from the seventh floor of a building in New York City while playing a drunken game of ‘trust’ with a friend.
Julian Simpson, 30, a second secretary to the United Nations for Australia, fell from the seventh floor and landed on a second-story landing on Clinton Street the Lower East Side of Manhattan in the early hours of Wednesday, local time.
He had been out with his wife and friends before they returned home to admire the view of the Empire State Building, The New York Post reported.
Julian Simpson (pictured), a second secretary to the United Nations for Australia, died after falling from the seventh floor of a building in New York City
The landmark was lit up in rainbow colours to celebrate Australia’s same-sex marriage vote.
Mr Simpson was playing a “trust” game on the rooftop deck of the building with a male friend when the accident happened, police sources told The Post.
He had climbed onto a higher part of the roof with his friend’s wife and twirled her around.
Inside the apartment, her husband confronted Mr Simpson, who insisted that he meant no harm and didn’t intend to scare her.
Mr Simpson fell from the seventh floor of his apartment building in the Lower East Side (above)
Mr Simpson convinced the man to play a ‘trust game’ to prove themselves to each other – which involved leaning back over the edge of the roof and trusting the other person to catch him.
He sat on the balcony railing facing the apartment and leaned backwards, witnesses said.
The friend said he had tried to put his arm out to catch Mr Simpson, but he slipped and fell.
Mr Simpson was rushed to the Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Everyone who was interviewed by police admitted to consuming alcohol that evening, according to the Post.
Investigators do not suspect foul play, sources told the newspaper.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment.