Indiana Man Falls 11 Stories into Pool After Stretching on Railing in Florida

The man told police that he and a friend had just finished laying hardwood flooring in the condo and he needed to stretch his back

Authorities say an Indiana man was stretching his back on a railing Tuesday when he lost his footing and fell from the 11th floor balcony of a Panama City Beach condominium.

The News Herald reports 38-year-old Mark Hefley of Greenwood, Indiana, plunged into a shallow pool below on Tuesday night.

Hefley's wife told Panama City Beach police that she and a friend were sitting on the couch when they saw Hefley slip and his legs upend as he fell over the balcony. The man appeared to have landed on his back and into about 4 feet of water.

Police reported that the building’s security guard heard Hefley scream as he fell into the pool and when the guard arrived, Hefley had pulled himself out of the water, according to the News Herald. The man then walked to a chair to wait for emergency responders.

Hefley told police after the incident that he and a friend had just finished laying hardwood flooring in the condo and he needed to stretch his back.

Hefley was in stable condition as of Tuesday evening, according to the News Herald.

Police don't believe alcohol was a factor.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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