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Introduction
A 37-year-old window cleaner is fighting for life after suffering a shattered skull, severe brain injury and multiple fractures in a fall from a residential rooftop in Sydney’s inner south. Luis “Lucho” Bonilla, a Colombian worker, remains in an induced coma as friends and family rally around him and regulators investigate the incident.
Details of the Incident
Bonilla was working on a residential building at the corner of Rothschild Avenue and Epsom Road in Rosebery at about 11am last Friday when he fell from the roof while carrying out window cleaning work.
According to a GoFundMe page set up by friends, the fall left him with:
- a severe traumatic brain injury
- multiple skull fractures with an extradural haematoma
- femoral, rib and forearm fractures
His friends wrote that Bonilla is in a critical condition and remains in an induced coma while doctors stabilise his injuries.
Medical Treatment and Recovery Outlook
Bonilla is being treated at Royal North Shore Hospital, where he faces a lengthy recovery involving further surgeries, intensive therapy and long-term rehabilitation.
He has already undergone two operations to repair his femur and forearm fractures and remains in an induced coma as neurosurgical and trauma teams manage his brain and skeletal injuries.
The fundraiser notes that his recovery will likely extend over months or years:
“Lucho is currently in a critical condition and remains in an induced coma while he receives urgent medical care.”
Family and Community Response
Friends describe Bonilla as one of the “most heart-warming, noble and generous people you could ever meet,” and say he has been working tirelessly to build a better life for himself and his family back in Colombia.
Bonilla originally came to Australia as an international student and has shared photos of himself at work on social media, often perched on high-rise facades and rooftops.
His parents are now trying to travel from Colombia to be by his side.
“His family will also be facing significant emotional and financial burdens as they support him daily and navigate travel, living costs, and medical expenses,” the GoFundMe page states, calling for donations, support and prayers.
Regulatory Response
SafeWork NSW confirmed it has been notified of the incident and that inspectors attended the Rosebery site.
A spokesperson said:
“Falls from heights is a SafeWork NSW high risk focus area and is one of five regulatory priorities.”
Enquiries into the circumstances of the fall are ongoing, including an examination of:
- what fall protection systems were in place
- whether safe access and edge protection were provided
- the adequacy of training, supervision and work procedures
Conclusion
As Luis “Lucho” Bonilla continues to fight for life in hospital, the incident has again highlighted the deadly risks associated with working at height — and the critical importance of robust fall-prevention systems on residential and commercial sites. For his family, friends and the Colombian community in Sydney, the focus now is on his survival and long-term recovery, while regulators work to determine how this devastating fall occurred.