Dubai teen falls to death from 17th floor of building while taking a selfie: 'She was standing on a chair in the balcony when she lost her balance'
A 16-year-old girl plunged to her death from the 17th floor of a popular tower in Dubai while trying to take a selfie on October 26.
The Afghan teenager is believed to have been trying to take a selfie from the balcony of her parents’ apartment in Kharbash Tower, with the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, in the backdrop when she lost her balance and fell.
Colonel Faisal Al Qasim, director of Security Media in Dubai Police, said: “She was standing on a chair in the balcony and trying to take a selfie when she lost control and fell to death."
He added: "Her sister said that she lost balance as she was sitting on the edge of the balcony. While she fell out of the balcony, the mobile phone with which she was taking the selfie fell inside. The girl was killed instantly."
A resident at the tower told Gulf News that it was "a popular vantage point from where photographers and bloggers take pictures of the Burj Khalifa" and many photographers have been known to use it to take shots of the Burj and Downtown Dubai.
"Last New Year, a blogger came and asked to record the Burj Khalifa fireworks from our building", the resident, who did not wish to be named, said. "He set up his camera in our balcony to take outstanding pictures and clips."
She also seemed surprised to hear about the teen falling from the tower as the balconies in the building were "solid."
“The balconies in the tower are safe as the railings are of solid metal and approximately 100cm high. I was shocked when I heard about the incident and feel sad for the girl and her family. May her soul rest in peace”, she added.
Dubai Police issued a warning urging people to be cautious while trying to take selfies following the horrific incident.