According to The Sunday Morning Herald, Handsjuk fell 40 meters, or about 131 feet, before landing in her apartment building’s trash room. Remarkably, this fall did not kill her. News Australia reports that Handsjuk ended up in the trash compactor and then into a bin. The trash compactor almost severed her foot, causing extensive bleeding. Despite this, Handsjuk managed to get out of the trash bin and attempted to crawl out of the room. Tragically, she was unable to get help. Handsjuk bled out from her injuries and died. She was discovered by a concierge worker who initially believed that her lifeless body was a mannequin.
The Sunday Morning Herald adds that her jeans were found around her knees. That being said, it’s unknown why Handsjuk entered the trash chute in the first place, but it’s believed she did so feet first (via Phoebe Handsjuk). Per Marie Claire Australia, it was later determined that Handsjuk had Stilnox, a prescription sedative in her system. In addition, she had a blood-alcohol level of 0.16, which is more than three times the legal driving limit.
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Police first surmised that Handsjuk had died by suicide. However, the coroner ruled that Handsjuk’s death was accidental. He believed that drugs and alcohol were to blame. The coroner stated that Handsjuk was in a “sleepwalking state” when she got inside the trash chute. Handsjuk’s family, on the other hand, refused to accept this conclusion.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
