11 Feb 2012

Window cleaner in stable condition after 30m fall

7:46 pm on 11 February 2012

A body that oversees commercial abseiling operations says it is unusual to have had three major falls in less than a year.

Louisa Kuypers, 18, is in a stable condition in Auckland Hospital after plunging 30 metres while cleaning windows at the Lion Nathan brewery in the Auckland suburb of Newmarket on Friday afternoon.

Thomas Croft, an executive member of the Industrial Rope Access Association, says there have been two other accidents in the past year.

In June, a window cleaner fell while working in Wellington and in December a woman fell while performing a theatrical act as part of a troupe in Auckland's Aotea Square.

"To have three close calls like this in a year is unfortunate, and it's a bit out of the norm as well."

Mr Croft says the company Miss Kuypers works for is well regarded within the industry.

Occupational Safety and Health and police are investigating the incident.