Garry Hoy: The Man That Fell Out A Skyscraper Window To His Death While Trying To Prove It Was Unbreakable
- dthholland
- Mar 10
- 4 min read
If there were ever a case of an unfortunate yet bizarre workplace mishap, the story of Garry Hoy would be at the top of the list. A respected Toronto lawyer with a background in engineering, Hoy’s legacy isn’t tied to landmark cases or courtroom drama. Instead, he’s remembered for one of the strangest deaths in legal history—a tragic accident that still gets talked about decades later.
Who Was Garry Hoy and Why Is He Known for Skyscraper Issues?
Garry Hoy wasn’t just another lawyer in a suit shuffling papers at a downtown Toronto skyscraper. He worked for Holden Day Wilson, once a major player in Canadian law circles, specialising in corporate and securities law. He also had a bit of an eccentric streak—one that involved demonstrating the strength of his office building’s windows by throwing himself against them.
It’s the kind of stunt that would normally get you fired (or at least a serious talking-to by HR), but Hoy had apparently been doing this for years. His reasoning? He trusted the strength of the Toronto-Dominion Centre’s glass. And to be fair, he wasn’t entirely wrong—the glass never broke. But, as fate would have it, that wasn’t the real issue.
The Fateful Night: July 9, 1993
On that summer evening, Holden Day Wilson was hosting a tour for prospective articling students—fresh-faced law graduates hoping to land a job. Hoy, ever the showman, saw an opportunity to impress. He had done his window stunt many times before, and what better way to make a lasting impression than to show them firsthand how sturdy the building was?
With confidence, he charged at the window, bouncing harmlessly off. So far, so good. But for reasons unknown, Hoy decided to give it another go—maybe for extra emphasis, or perhaps because he thought the first attempt wasn’t quite dramatic enough.
This time, the glass held firm, but the window frame itself gave way. The entire pane popped out, sending Hoy hurtling 24 stories to his death in the courtyard below. He didn’t survive the fall.
The Aftermath: A Firm on the Brink
Unsurprisingly, the incident left a lasting impact on Holden Day Wilson. Hoy’s colleagues were understandably shaken, and the firm’s reputation took a hit. It wasn’t just that one of their lawyers had died in such a surreal way—it was the fact that it had happened in front of a group of future lawyers, creating an eerie and unforgettable moment.
Within a few years, Holden Day Wilson was struggling. By 1996, it had shut down completely, marking the biggest law firm closure in Canadian history at the time. While Hoy’s death wasn’t the sole reason for the firm’s demise, it certainly didn’t help.
Why Didn’t the Glass Break?
After the accident, there was a lot of head-scratching. Shouldn’t modern office buildings be designed to handle some force? Structural engineer Bob Greer was quoted in the Toronto Star, saying:
"I don’t know of any building code in the world that would allow a 160-pound man to run up against a glass and withstand it."
And he was right—except, again, the glass didn’t break. It was the frame that gave way, meaning the fault wasn’t so much in the strength of the window but in how it was secured.
Why Does Google Show a White Guy When You Search for Garry Hoy?
If you’ve ever Googled Garry Hoy’s name, you might have noticed something odd—most of the images that come up aren’t actually of him. Instead, you’ll often see a Caucasian man, rather than someone of Chinese descent (Hoy’s original family name was 許).
So, what’s going on?
Well, the internet isn’t always great at distinguishing between people with similar names. There happens to be another Garry (or Gary) Hoy, an Australian businessman, whose photos often get incorrectly associated with the Toronto lawyer. Since Hoy’s death happened in 1993, before the internet was widely used, there aren’t many photos of him floating around online. That gap has allowed the wrong images to circulate, leading to this mix-up.
Hoy’s tragic fall has become an infamous cautionary tale—one that blends irony, tragedy, and an almost comical level of misplaced confidence. His story has been featured on shows like MythBusters and 1000 Ways to Die, and it continues to pop up in discussions about unusual deaths.
While his intentions were harmless—just a lawyer trying to add a bit of flair to a workplace tour—it serves as a reminder that even the safest-seeming things can have unexpected consequences. His accident wasn’t the result of reckless thrill-seeking or some extreme stunt—it was an everyday workplace quirk that went horribly wrong.
And if nothing else, Garry Hoy’s story might just make you think twice the next time you feel the urge to test the limits of office infrastructure.
