Parents of Toronto 'rooftopper' warn others after son plunges to his death
CTV
The parents of a young man who plunged to his death from a downtown Toronto tower last month are coming forward to warn others about what they view as the dangerous pastime of 'rooftopping,' which they believe played a role in their son’s death.
The parents of a young man who plunged to his death from a downtown Toronto tower last month are coming forward to warn others about what they view as the dangerous pastime of “rooftopping,” which they believe played a role in their son’s death.
Dorota and Dariusz Rybicki told CTV News they are hoping the death of their son Conrad will discourage groups of people who challenge building security measures to climb to the top of buildings and cranes because, they argue, a single mistake can be fatal.
“We would say, watch out, this isn’t fun. This isn’t entertainment that young people should be interested in. It’s so dangerous,” Dariusz Rybicki said in an interview from Poland.
“You cannot compare it with sports or having hobbies. This is so deadly. One small mistake can end your life,” he said.
The Toronto Police Service and Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner confirmed that they are investigating the death of the 22-year-old Canadian citizen on May 23.
There has been no finding of cause of death at this point, the coroner said, and police said they have not categorized the death as suspicious.
But a trail of photos and videos that Rybicki has left online show repeated ventures to the tops of towers in Toronto. In one video posted last June to a TikTok account, Rybicki’s feet dangle over the edge of a building, dozens of storeys up from Front Street in Toronto as his smartphone camera pans to the CN Tower and the Rogers Centre.