The former police commissioner of Victoria suggested that if you work above the 13th floor of any building, consider buying a parachute. Because the fire ladders only go up to 13 floors and you are on your own if the shit hits the fan. Well that was his tone anyway.

“If you’re above that and you have something like we had in New York, there were people there leaping from windows dozens of stories up to certain death.”

“With a personal parachute they at least would have a reasonable chance of survival.”

He was immediately criticised by the Police Minister of Victoria for making an “irresponsible” suggestion. And the assistant fire chief of Melbourne had this caution:

… a parachutist could fly “right into the tram wires and the overhead power lines and any firefighting activities that might be going on down in the street”.

I don’t know, what would you do? Frankly if I was gonna die trapped in a burning or a collapsing building, I’d take my chances with a parachute. I’d like to think I have a choice about it.

Parachute push for city high flyers - Top stories - Breaking News 24/7 - NEWS.com.au