Authorities say the 56-year-old window washer fell from the 12th floor to the 6th floor court yard at 60 Madison Avenue.
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The accident happened around 10:20 a.m. on Monday.
"We were just sitting in the office having a meeting on the 7th floor and we saw something fall right outside the window," Daniel, an office worker, said.
The 56 year old plunged from the 12th floor onto a 6th floor, landing in the building's airshaft. Horrified office workers quickly dialed 911.
"We called the cops and a few people ran down the fire escape to see if they could help him. And he wasn't breathing and there was a lot of blood," Daniel said.
He was taken to Bellevue Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
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The name of the victim was not identified pending notification of his family.
Police say the window washer's safety harness apparently gave way. It's not yet determined how or why.
The New York State Department of Labor says Division of Safety and Health investigators have been dispatched to determine what went wrong.