A 63-year-old man who had repeatedly climbed out of his flat to rescue his pet cat fell to his death in To Kwa Wan, with details revealing a long-standing pattern of risky behavior and a lack of basic safety measures at home.
Read more: 63-year-old man dies after falling from height while rescuing cat in To Kwa Wan
The incident occurred at Jubilant Place at about 11pm on Tuesday (Feb 18). The man, surnamed Koon, was watching television when his British Shorthair cat, “Bobo,” jumped out of the window. He climbed out in an attempt to retrieve it but lost his footing and fell to a podium below.
His wife, who was showering at the time, heard a loud noise and later realized her husband had fallen.
Sources said the man had owned the cat for more than a decade but had never installed window screens in the flat. The cat had previously strayed onto nearby ledges and window sills multiple times, and Koon had each time climbed out to bring it back without seeking help.
Neighbors said that after the fall, the cat remained trapped on a narrow ledge outside the unit. Concerned residents alerted security staff, who found the man unconscious and called police. He was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The Hong Kong Fire Services Department and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals responded to the scene. Videos circulating online showed rescuers attempting to guide the cat into a container before eventually securing it with a loop and bringing it safely back indoors.
