When Proving A Point Goes Wrong: The Fall Of Garry Hoy

Discover the startling tale of ambition and tragedy that marked the end of Garry Hoy.

Davy

• Published in Interesting
• March 2, 2024

In a shocking turn of events that sounds more like a cautionary tale than real life, Garry Hoy, a 38-year-old lawyer with a background in engineering, met a tragic end in an attempt to demonstrate the strength of a skyscraper's window. Working in Toronto's bustling Financial District, Hoy's expertise in building safety led him to a fatal demonstration.

His story serves as a stark reminder of the fine line between confidence and recklessness. This retelling aims to shed light on the events that led to his untimely demise, hoping to engage and inform our readers about the importance of safety and the unpredictability of life.

in the heart of Toronto's Financial District, stood a lawyer named Garry Hoy. With a keen mind for engineering and a passion for building safety, Hoy was well-respected at the law firm Holden Day Wilson.

His journey from engineering to law had led him to specialize in ensuring buildings were safe and sound. Among his interests, the strength of modern buildings fascinated him the most.

Garry's curiosity and confidence brought him to the 24th floor of a skyscraper built in 1969, not far from the ground he walked on daily. However, it wasn't the height that caught his attention but the windows of the office.

More than the view, it was their strength that intrigued him. To prove their durability, Garry had a unique way of testing them: he would run and body-check the windows at gatherings, showing off their unbreakable nature.

On July 9, 1993, during a welcome party for new interns eager to dive into the world of law, Garry saw an opportunity to impress. As he had done many times before, he charged at the window to showcase its strength.

The first attempt went as expected, but the second was disastrously different. Instead of bouncing back, the window frame gave way, and to the horror of everyone watching, Garry plummeted 24 stories down, meeting a tragic end on the pavement below.

The incident left everyone in shock, including experts who later commented that no building code could anticipate such a test of strength. Garry's death, termed 'accidental auto-defenestration,' was a rare and unfortunate event.

Despite the tragic outcome, it was noted that the glass itself did not break, a small testament to his belief in the window's strength. Garry Hoy's story is a somber reminder of the unpredictability of life and the importance of caution, even in the face of confidence and curiosity.

Davy