Sydney man survives five-floor fall

A young man has survived a five-storey fall onto an awning in the Sydney CBD after police arrived to investigate reports of people in a closed shopping centre.

Two others, including one believed to be the 20-year-old's brother, have been arrested.

Police say the man, who broke his pelvis and has suspected spinal injuries, is lucky to be alive after the incident in the early hours on Tuesday.

They were called to investigate the shopping centre in Sussex Street in Haymarket at about 1am.

When they arrived they saw the trio on the fifth floor but were unable to reach them.

Soon after, two men, aged 18 and 20, were arrested after they were spotted trying to climb over a fence next to the building.

One of the men told police his brother had fallen onto an awning.

Police and paramedics used a ladder to rescue the injured man, who's been taken to St Vincent's Hospital.