Elvita Adams jumped off the 86th floor of the Empire State Building in 1979. She was a single mother who had lost her job and couldn’t pay rent, thinking that taking her life was her only way out—but she fell into an unusual wind current. Somehow, she hit a ledge just one floor down, falling only 100 feet instead of over 1,000. Her fall at 15 miles per hour shattered her pelvis. Now, we still marvel at her survival — but what if it wasn’t just luck? What if something else was at play? This narrative is not just a story of Elvita: it's how some years ago, a similar story emerged about young Steve Brodie.
Unlikely survival
In 1979 a woman named Elvita Adams climbed over the railing of the 86th floor of the Empire State Building and jumped. The building’s flat sides and sharp corners made the wind rush up the building. When she jumped, she fell into a perfect wind current and it created almost like an invisible cushion and it pushed her back into the building. Elvita hit a ledge just one floor down on the 85th floor instead of falling 1,000 feet to the street. Her pelvis shattered, but she was alive. She was given a second chance at life, and was later found by a security guard. Elvita’s story is dramatic and unique, but it's not the only one of its kind. She didn't die. Falling at 15 miles per hour, a wind current carried her upward, pushing her back into the building. Elvita was given a second chance at life.
What it means to defy gravity
There are a hundred buildings in the world taller than the Empire State Building, but the Empire State Building is distinctive for its narrow floors. This makes the wind current issues around the Empire State building unique. The Empire State Building’s design is distinct. It is an early sort of skyscraper, with narrow, flat floors and sharp corners. These features are important because they have a unique impact on the wind currents around the building. Almost everything else in NYC at that time was built up to the ground level foundation from the ground up. Around the Empire State Building, if you hadn't flown in the perfect wind current what would have happened?
Falling from impossible heights
Sometimes, wind patterns can create unexpected challenges. With such tall buildings, the air has nowhere to go, and it will move upwards. This is called updraft. The air between the ground-level windows and the ground floor elevators is full of wind coming through, creating underbite so that when you fall, the updraft will carry you up and hit the building once more. The wind pushes you back into the building, and the situation keeps repeating. When you jump from the Empire State Building, you might end up falling back if you fall with a strong enough wind that pushes you back into the building. Elvita took a long leap. Jumping from such a height usually results in serious injury or death, but she survived. Because of this, her story is often retold as a miracle.
The fall’s inexorable landing
Unfortunately, if the building is very tall, the wind pattern will be very strong, so you can end up hitting the side of the building, falling back again. Elvita is an exceptional case. She hit a ledge just one floor down on the 85th floor, but still, she could easily die if she fell from the same height in other buildings. Another part of Elvita’s survival is a question of luck. She was lucky across the board. Perhaps this is part of the reason this isn't just one random accident. Moreover, it reveals the true power of nature and what we know about falling objects.
The improbable force of a fall
Wind currents can save lives, but they can also be dangerous. Most of the time, wind currents are not strong enough to carry a person up. However, if you jump from a high enough building, the air underneath your body can create enough lift to push you back towards the building. A wind current is created because the wind is being forced to go around a building. Because the Empire State Building is one of a kind, it has a unique design. The current will not always carry you back to the building, but it's possible to fall back into the building. The wind currents around the Empire State Building are an unusual feature of the building.
Sky-high chance of survival
If you’re in distress, being trapped, or simply have reached your wits end, Elvita Adams’ story is a reminder that sometimes things happen because of forces beyond our control. If you are ever in a situation where you feel like you need to jump to escape it, remember Elvita, and remember that there are other ways.
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Questions readers ask
What exactly caused Elvita Adams to survive her fall from the Empire State Building?
Elvita Adams survived because she fell into a strong updraft created by the unique design of the Empire State Building. This wind current acted like an invisible cushion, pushing her back into the building and causing her to hit a ledge just one floor below, rather than falling all the way to the ground. Her survival was a combination of luck and the specific wind patterns around the building.
How did the Empire State Building's design contribute to Elvita Adams' survival?
The Empire State Building's narrow floors and sharp corners create unique wind currents. These currents can push falling objects back towards the building, which is what happened to Elvita. The building's distinctive shape and early skyscraper design are crucial factors in understanding why she survived.
What are updrafts and how do they relate to Elvita Adams' fall?
Updrafts are wind patterns that move upward, often created by tall buildings. In Elvita's case, the updraft around the Empire State Building carried her upward, pushing her back into the building. This phenomenon is why she hit a ledge just one floor down instead of falling to the ground.
Are there other similar cases of people surviving falls from extreme heights?
Yes, Elvita's story is not the only one of its kind. There are other cases, like that of Steve Brodie, who also survived a fall from the Empire State Building. These cases are rare and often involve unusual circumstances, such as specific wind patterns or structural features of the building.
What injuries did Elvita Adams sustain from her fall, and how severe were they?
Elvita Adams shattered her pelvis during the fall. Despite this severe injury, she survived and was given a second chance at life. Her survival is often seen as a miracle, given the height from which she fell and the nature of her injuries.
Could someone else potentially survive a similar fall from the Empire State Building today?
While it's theoretically possible for someone to survive a similar fall due to the unique wind currents around the Empire State Building, it's important to note that such survival is extremely rare and dependent on a specific set of circumstances. The building's design and wind patterns make it a unique case, but surviving such a fall would still be highly unlikely.
Were there any other factors besides the wind current that contributed to Elvita Adams' survival?
The wind current was the primary factor in Elvita Adams' survival. However, the specific design of the Empire State Building, with its narrow floors and sharp corners, also played a crucial role in creating the unique wind patterns that carried her upward. Additionally, the fact that she hit a ledge just one floor down rather than falling to the ground was a significant factor in her survival.
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