'A man had been hanging on the balcony on 15th floor with one of his feet for 30 minutes.' Picture: Incident/Vkontkte

The Novosibirsk man was hanging for 30 minutes before neighbours smashed down his door and pulled him back to safety.

Dramatic pictures show the unnamed man his shirt hanging down from his head as he clung on by one leg.

It is unclear why he fell: whether he had been window cleaning, had been pushed or chosen to end his life.

Dramatic pictures show the unnamed man his shirt hanging down from his head as he clung on by one leg. Pictures: Incident/Vkontkte

Neighbours called the emergency services to the address at 36 Tankovaya Street, but broke down his door and freed him before they arrived.

'A man had been hanging on the balcony on 15th floor with one of his feet for 30 minutes before he was rescued by his neighbours who broke into his apartment,' said an emergency service spokesman.