(WSVN) – South Florida fire departments are receiving more calls for help from people trapped in broken elevators. 7’s Jack Royer investigates why so many people fail.
It’s a celebration. Smiles and tears of joy after residents were rescued. They were trapped in a hot elevator for more than an hour in Sunny Isles Beach last week.
Dr. Darren Joseph lives in an apartment at the Intracoastal Yacht Club and recorded the moment.
Dr. Darren Joseph Trapped in Elevator: “I was just relieved. I was so happy to see my buddy Chip, who saved us that day.”
Darren said a childhood friend who works at the fire department responded to his call for help. After a stressful moment, he said, his voice was a great comfort.
Dr. Darren Joseph: “I’m thinking, ‘I’m not going to survive.'”
Darren said he was going to take his dog Max for a walk.
When the elevator fell, it got stuck between two floors. They weren’t sure if anyone could hear their cries for help.
Dr. Darren Joseph: “Some people were panicking in the elevator.”
Thankfully, everyone escaped safely.
But Darren takes no chances. He goes up the stairs now.
Dr. Darren Joseph: “I mean, it’s good exercise, but what about the people who live on the 25th floor? You know, we feel trapped.”
In Broward, these seniors are trapped.
Leonard Hornsby: “We can’t get off. Some of us walk with walkers, some of us walk in wheelchairs.”
Both elevators at this affordable housing complex in Fort Lauderdale have been down for more than a month, leaving elderly residents trapped.
Leonard Hornsby: “I need to go outside and get some sun. I can’t go out.”
This photo shows what happened the last time Leonard tried to use the stairs. He fell halfway down.
Leonard Hornsby: “I went upstairs and I blacked out, and my son came and woke me up.”
Another neighbor’s wife is bedridden and has to be carried up and down stairs by the fire department to get a medical appointment.
John Dorsey: “The fire department has to come to get my wife on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and sometimes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays when she has doctor’s appointments. That was very stressful for her. ”
Unfortunately, the same thing is happening in other buildings.
7 Investigates has received emails and calls from areas up north like Boynton Beach about broken elevators. One said the elevator had been out of service for more than three years.
Leonard Hornsby: “Something has to be done.”
Both Miami-Dade and Broward counties have elevator safety departments.
All elevators are required to be inspected at least once a year, but you won’t know your elevator is malfunctioning unless you receive a complaint from a resident.
Dr. Darren Joseph: “And as you can see, there are people here who always seem to be working on this problem, but it still seems to be the same problem, and the problem is never resolved. know.”
We talked to several elevator repair companies. They say part of the problem is finding parts to repair old elevators and bringing them into compliance with new building codes.
Marshall Aldridge: “They need to do something about it. They should have put another elevator here in the first place instead of cutting this elevator apart.”
Because when elevators break down, residents trapped in their homes don’t feel safe.
Jack Royer, 7News.
Contact 7 investigates:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
[email protected]
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