Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
[Updated] Please, Even On Valentine's, Don't Climb <strike>Her</strike> Their Fire Escape
By
Garth Johnston
Published Feb 15, 2011
Modified Feb 15, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Garth Johnston
Published Feb 15, 2011
Modified Feb 15, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
[Big Update Below]
Sometimes a romantic gesture can land you in the hospital. No, not that kind of gesture. The Daily News today has a story about the kind of incident we're talking about. Last night a 30-year-old Romeo tried to visit his girlfriend in Morningside Heights. But when he got to her building around midnight nobody answered the door. But he was there, and it being Valentine's and all, he went for the romantic gesture and climbed up her fire escape. All was well until he got to the third floor, at which point he slipped and fell back to the ground.
The falling man was a lucky man, though! EMS quickly arrived at the scene and he was taken to St. Luke's where he is in stable condition with broken vertebrae.
And it could have been much, much worse. About once a year we see similar stories whose endings are much more tragic.
Update: Well then! A whole slew of new facts about the story have emerged. Still true? Last night a man fell three stories while trying to get into a person's apartment. But was he 30? Nope, the falling man, Miguel Angel De La Torre, was 23. Was he trying to have a midnight Valentine's tryst with his girlfriend? Nope, he was trying to see his 43-year-old ex-boyfriend (who actually had an order of protection against him). But none of this changes the fact that romantic gestures, even creepy ones, can land you in the hospital. To which we'll add: this is why we lock our windows!
Tagged
fall
locked out
lockout
morningside heights
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NJ early voting begins Saturday. Here's everything you need to know.
Our 2026 New Jersey voter’s guide for this year’s midterm elections.
By
Mike Hayes
Published Oct 23, 2026 at 11:01 a.m. ET
Countdown clocks are coming to an NYC bus stop near you
New York City bus service isn't exactly reliable, but new digital countdown clocks will give riders a better sense of how long they have to wait.
By
Stephen Nessen
News
Countdown clocks are coming to an NYC bus stop near you
New York City bus service isn't exactly reliable, but new digital countdown clocks will give riders a better sense of how long they have to wait.
By
Stephen Nessen
Are NJ schools unconstitutionally segregated? It's back to the courts to decide.
By
Colleen O'Dea
Early Addition: New Jersey considering a ban on chewing gum because of microplastics
By
James Ramsay
Queens mother charged with murdering her son after failed suicide attempt, NYPD says
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .