Kristin Sargent, 21, is awake and talking in intensive care as police continue investigating the fall at an off-campus apartment complex.
ATHENS, GA — A 21-year-old University of Georgia senior is awake and talking as she recovers from serious injuries suffered in an eight-story fall from an off-campus apartment building, according to her father and authorities.
Kristin Sargent, a UGA senior studying finance and marketing, fell from an eighth-floor window at Rambler Athens on West Broad Street on Saturday, Sept. 26. Her father, Richard Sargent, said she is recovering in an intensive care unit after suffering multiple injuries. Police said she is expected to survive.
A newly released Athens-Clarke County police incident report identified Sargent and provided additional details about the fall. Police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel were called to the apartment complex Saturday evening. Witnesses told investigators that Sargent had been dancing on a couch or air mattress near an open window before falling through the window screen and onto the pool deck below.
Officers found Sargent on the ground near the pool, according to the police report. Investigators reported evidence suggesting she struck a metal bench during the fall. Emergency medical personnel took her to a hospital with serious injuries. Police said evidence gathered so far indicates the fall was accidental, although the investigation remains open.
Richard Sargent told WSB-TV that his family rushed from Virginia to Athens after learning that his daughter had fallen. He said Kristin was doing better than many had expected and was able to speak with family members and friends. He said she suffered several broken bones but remained aware of what had happened.
“She was talking to one of her friends and saying, ‘Hey, I’m alive. I can’t believe it,’” Richard Sargent told WSB-TV. He described his daughter as a fighter and said the family is focused on her recovery.
The fall happened at Rambler Athens, an off-campus apartment complex near the University of Georgia and downtown Athens. Earlier accounts from Athens-Clarke County police said Sargent was conscious and alert when emergency responders arrived but had suffered serious injuries.
The circumstances surrounding the apartment window have also drawn attention. In a message to residents after the incident, Rambler management said windows throughout the property are equipped with safety limiters and told residents not to tamper with, remove or disengage the devices. Management said it was gathering information and cooperating with authorities as the circumstances were reviewed.
Authorities have not said whether the safety limiter on the window involved in Sargent’s fall was engaged, disabled or otherwise played a role in what happened. Rambler management previously said its thoughts were with the resident and her family and asked that their privacy be respected.
Sargent’s father said the family has received significant support from the UGA community and Piedmont Healthcare during her hospitalization. Students and friends have also left messages of encouragement at the apartment complex as she continues her recovery.
Police continue to investigate the circumstances of the fall. The latest public accounts say Sargent remains seriously injured but is awake, communicating and expected to survive.
Author note: Last updated September 29, 2026.