1. Toddler Plunges Down Elevator Shaft in Russia
A young family in Voronezh, Russia watched in horror when their two-year-old boy leaned on what appeared to be a closed elevator door and suddenly the door gave way, causing the child to fall roughly six feet down the shaft. Fortunately the father scrambled through the narrow opening and rescued him, and the boy was taken to hospital with only minor bruises. Neighbours had reportedly complained about recurring elevator malfunctions in the new building. The incident left residents shaken and prompted an official investigation into elevator safety in the block.
2. Tourist Elevator Malfunction in Colorado Gold Mine
In the historic Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine near Cripple Creek, Colorado, a lift used to carry visitors down a mining shaft malfunctioned at about 500 feet beneath the surface. One person died, four were injured and twelve more were trapped for hours before rescue teams brought them to safety. The malfunction centered around a broken door and mechanical failure of the elevator system. For the trapped group the atmosphere and communication via radio were critical while responders worked to bring them up in staged groups. The event underscores how even tourist lifts underground carry serious risk.
3. Five-Year-Old Killed in Indian Apartment Elevator
In Navsari, India a five-year-old boy entered an apartment building lift while his mother locked their door and the lift suddenly ascended, trapping the child between the car and the second-floor door frame. He was later pronounced dead at hospital after the fire and rescue team pried the lift’s metal grill. The society’s licence and maintenance records are under investigation by local police. The incident spurred questions about how residential elevators are inspected and maintained in apartment buildings where children may use them unsupervised.
4. 18-Year-Old Student Athlete Crushed by Elevator in Atlanta
An aspiring football player, aged 18, boarded an elevator in a student-housing building near Atlanta with two teammates when the carriage malfunctioned. The lift stopped at the third floor and when one of the athletes tried to exit it suddenly fell, crushing him between the elevator top and the shaft floor. He remained trapped for nearly an hour before rescue and later died from his injuries. Officials identified multiple code violations and unlicensed technicians in the building’s elevator installation. The tragedy raised awareness of elevator safety in dorm-style high-rise housing for young adults.
5. Doctor Killed by Falling Elevator in Lagos Hospital
In Lagos, Nigeria a young doctor riding the elevator at the staff quarters of a general hospital was delivered tragic news when the elevator plunged from the tenth floor, trapping her for over forty minutes. She died from injuries sustained during the crash. Colleagues and media reported prior complaints about the faulty elevator which prompted an inquiry by state authorities. The incident sparked a strike threat by medical staff and widespread discussion on maintenance standards in public facility elevators. It is a stark reminder that elevator safety is critical in hospitals too.
6. Man Trapped in Elevator for 41 Hours in New York
In 2008 a 34-year-old New York production manager took a cigarette break then returned to an elevator which suddenly stopped between floors. He pressed an alarm that rang unanswered in a deserted building. He remained trapped for 41 hours with no water while cameras captured his pacing and claustrophobia until rescue crews finally freed him. While no fatalities occurred, the ordeal highlights how elevator failures can shift from inconvenience to crisis when backup systems and monitoring are lacking.
7. Grandmother Falls Down Empty Elevator Shaft in New Jersey
A 53-year-old grandmother in a New Jersey apartment building fell roughly sixteen feet down an empty elevator shaft when she opened the doors assuming the elevator car was there, stepped in backwards and plummeted to the basement. She was seriously injured with a broken elbow and stomach tear. Firefighters drilled a hole to reach her. The building owner launched an investigation with the elevator company. The incident draws attention to the dangers of mis-signalled elevator presence and the importance of safety interlocks preventing door opening when the car is absent.
8. Construction Elevator Crash That Killed Five Workers
At a construction site in Sundbyberg near Stockholm five workers were riding a temporary outdoor elevator when the structure collapsed and fell more than twenty meters to the ground. The impact killed all five men and the accident shocked the community as families gathered near the site waiting for information. Authorities launched an immediate investigation focusing on potential mechanical failure and whether the lift had been properly inspected before use. The incident brought attention to worker safety protocols and raised questions about equipment standards on fast moving construction projects where heavy machinery is used daily.
9. Girl Rescued After Her Arm Was Pulled into Elevator Door
In Hoboken a five year old girl was riding her building elevator when her arm became caught in the door mechanism as it began to close unexpectedly. She screamed loudly and a doorman seven floors above heard her and rushed down the stairwell to help. Firefighters arrived quickly and freed the girl using special tools before taking her to the hospital. She suffered bruising but recovered. The building’s management inspected the elevator immediately after the incident and reinforced rules about children riding with adults. The quick response of the doorman helped prevent a far worse outcome.
10. Workers Trapped During Grand Central Power Outage
During a power outage at Grand Central Terminal five maintenance workers became trapped in an elevator when the building lost electrical supply. Backup systems did not activate which left them stuck between floors for nearly an hour. Emergency crews worked through the darkened station to reach the elevator and manually open the doors. The workers emerged shaken but uninjured and the transit authority began reviewing its emergency response and power backup procedures. Commuters reported widespread delays and confusion throughout the terminal. The incident highlighted how vulnerable busy public spaces can be when essential systems fail unexpectedly.
This story 10 Elevator Stories Stranger Than Any Urban Legend was first published on Daily FETCH
