Typical scientist mis-stating the facts. Lucy died from injuries sustained in a landing. Falling never hurt anyone.
I've heard that it's not uncommon for people falling from great heights to have heart attacks and die before they hit the ground.
The acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/sec2) on the way down, which is a function of the distance of the fall. The estimate is about 40 feet, which is a pretty good distance. She gains kinetic energy during the downward trip.
If I were to accelerate horizontally at the same rate, I imagine I would not suffer severe effects, unless my subsequent deceleration were significantly more severe.
If there was a wall, big beautiful wall there, there would be no illegals taking American jobs - and the escalator from the tree would have been built properly, it would have been a big, beautiful escalator, and she would not have fallen. Sad.