Air conditioner installation accident claims man's life

Taipei, July 3 (CNA) A man fell to his death from a rooftop in New Taipei on Thursday after attempting to stop an air conditioning unit he recently purchased from falling to the ground as it was being hoisted onto the roof of a five-story apartment building, according to police.

An initial police investigation found that the 67-year-old man, surnamed Lu (呂), tried to grab the air conditioner when it came loose during the hoisting process and fell to the ground along with the unit.

The accident occurred at around 4 p.m., after the workers delivering and installing the air conditioner decided to hoist the machine onto the rooftop because the stairwell was too narrow to carry it up to Lu's fourth-floor home.

Upon arrival, police found Lu had no heartbeat, and he was later pronounced dead at the hospital after efforts to resuscitate him failed.

The four workers were referred by the police to prosecutors on suspicion of negligent homicide.