Australian diplomat dies after fall from New York building

The PM and Julie Bishop express shock at the death of the ‘fine young man’ who fell to his death in mysterious circumstances.

Australian Diplomat Julian Simpson (far right) fell to his death from a Manhattan building terrace.

An Australian diplomat who died after falling from a New York balcony is being remembered as a fine young man who was exceptional at his job.

Julian Simpson, 30, died after falling five storeys from the seventh floor of a Lower East Side building in the early hours of Wednesday, local time.

The Prime Minister, Julie Bishop and other MPs have expressed their shock at the tragedy, and paid tribute to Mr Simpson.

The tragedy occurred when the second secretary to the United Nations for Australia was playing the “trust game,” according to a law-enforcement official familiar with the investigation.

New York City police found him at 1.15am on the second floor terrace of the apartment building on Clinton Street near East Houston street, the official said.

Police interviewed Mr Simpson’s wife and friends to gain details on what happened before the fall, the official said.

The Manhattan building terrace where Julian Simpson fell to his death.

After going out for dinner and drinks, the group returned to the apartment building terrace for more drinks and to view the Empire State Building, the official said. The building lit up in rainbow colours on Tuesday night to celebrate Australia’s vote to legalise same-sex marriage.

Mr Simpson then went to a higher roof landing with another woman in the friend group, the official said, “and decided to swing her around.” When the group went back inside, the husband of that woman confronted Mr Simpson, the official said.

“The intentions were never to scare or hurt your wife,” Mr Simpson told the man, according to the official.

Mr Simpson then told the man that he could prove his trustworthiness, the official said.

“Let’s play the trust game,” Mr Simpson told the man, before they both went to the seventh floor terrace, the official said.

Mr Simpson said he would lean near the ledge of the terrace and fall into the arms of the man, the official said. But before the man could get prepared, Mr Simpson slipped on the edge and fell through the arms of the man.

The official said the police were treating the incident as accidental. Every member of the group said they consumed alcohol during the night, the official said.

The Australian Consulate-General New York referred comment to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which didn’t return request for comment.

Tragedy rocks federal MPs

Mr Simpson worked alongside Labor senator Lisa Singh while she was on secondment at the UN for three months in 2016.

“Julian was my minder, my staffer. He was a person who certainly looked after me for those three months, and did an exceptional job at that,” Senator Singh told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.

“He was a very fine young man, a very fine young diplomat. It’s very sad to hear that he has passed away.”

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop also received support from Mr Simpson while abroad.

“Julian was a diligent, professional and highly skilled diplomat, whose support I valued, particularly during UN Leaders’ Week,” Ms Bishop said in a statement. “He will be remembered as someone dedicated to the service of our nation as a member of Australia’s foreign service.

Empire State Building lights up to celebrate SSM vote https://t.co/LlUZj61pBk pic.twitter.com/NmpuYA3Tee

— Zesty New York News (@zesty_NY) November 15, 2017

Ms Bishop said her department would continue to provide support to Mr Simpson’s family and to other Australian diplomats in New York who had lost a valued colleague.

“I ask that the media and others respect the privacy of Julian’s family at this difficult time,” she said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has described Mr Simpson’s death as a “shocking tragedy”.

“It is a tragedy and hearts go out to his family but I cannot provide any more details,” Mr Turnbull told the Seven Network on Thursday morning. “It is a shocking tragedy. A young life lost.”

AAP/Dow Jones