An incredible fall from the eighth floor of an apartment building and the ensuing fight for her life have shocked the university community in Georgia, U.S. Christine Sargeant, a 21-year-old student at the University of Georgia, survived the fall and is being treated in an intensive care unit, having sustained serious injuries and fractures.
The young student was at The Rambler apartment complex on West Broad Street in Athens, Georgia, when the accident occurred on Saturday night.
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According to the police report, the 21-year-old was reportedly dancing on a couch or air mattress near an open window when she fell through the screen and landed on the ground.
Her father, Richard Sargeant, speaking to Channel 2 Action News, described the harrowing moment he spoke with his daughter after the accident.
“She was talking to a friend of hers and told her, ‘Hi, I’m alive. I can’t believe I’m alive,’” he said.
He acknowledged that his daughter had been seriously injured, but emphasized that the family is grateful she managed to survive.
“She’s pretty badly hurt, but we’re lucky she’s alive and we feel blessed. She’s a fighter and she’ll pull through,” he said.
The fall following the Georgia Bulldogs’ victory
Richard Sargent did not want to comment on the exact circumstances that led to the fall, but he explained that the incident occurred after the University of Georgia’s football team defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 41–13.
“The University of Georgia had just won a game. I imagine there were a lot of 21-year-olds here who were very happy,” he said.
Kristin Sargent is a senior at the University of Georgia, where she is majoring in finance and marketing.
What the police investigation reveals
According to Officer Eric Ellison’s report, authorities arrived at the complex after receiving a call about the fall.
The officer reported that he spoke with eyewitnesses, who claimed that the young woman “was dancing on a sofa or an air mattress” next to an open window and likely fell when the screen gave way.
The student was found on the ground near the complex’s pool, which is located in an inner courtyard on the second floor of the building.
Police estimated that during the fall, the 21-year-old likely struck a metal bench, as blood was found on the seat cushion, and her arm was broken.
Ellison noted that statements from eyewitnesses and the evidence gathered indicate that this was an accident.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities reported that the student is expected to survive.
Source: Proto Thema
