‘Recipe for disaster’: Schoolies urged to avoid dangerous act

With one final week of Schoolies ahead, police have urged attendees to avoid participating in an extremely dangerous act that could end in disaster.

Authorities have urged people to be cautious after an image of a man walking on the ledge of a high-rise building on the Gold Coast emerged.

The image was shared on a Surfers Paradise community Facebook page on Sunday, showing a young man forgoing all safety standards and walking along the ledge of Surfers Plaza Resort, several storeys above the ground, also known as “balcony hopping”.

A picture has gone viral of a man ‘balcony hopping’ several metres above ground, prompting authorities to warn others from participating in the risky activity. Picture: Facebook

While it’s not clear when the photo was taken, it’s understood the incident occurred during Schoolies, which is set to come to an end this week.

As the final week of the end-of-school celebrations wind down, police are urging young people to steer clear of walking on the outer barriers of balconies, especially when alcohol is involved.

“Look, there are barriers on balconies for a reason,” Queensland Police Superintendent Peter Miles told the Gold Coast Bulletin. “It’s to keep you safe.”

Balcony hopping could especially dangerous if a person was intoxicated, Superintendent Miles said.

“If you’ve got alcohol on-board or drugs, you really are playing with fire and that will end tragically,” he said. “Not too many people fall from a seven, eight or nine-storey building and survive.”

Superintendent Miles urged people to “think about the actions that you’re about to take” and discouraged anyone who wanted to have a “wander outside on the balcony”.

“It’s a recipe for disaster,” he said.