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She Walked Into an Elevator on Friday Night. She Wasn’t Freed Until Monday. She Walked Into an Elevator on Friday Night. She Wasn’t Rescued Until Monday.
(about 2 hours later)
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A woman was stuck for three days in the elevator of a Manhattan townhouse where she worked and was only rescued after the house’s owners returned from a weekend away, officials said. A woman was trapped for three days in the elevator of a Manhattan townhouse, where she worked, while the house’s owners spent a weekend away, officials said.
After she was freed Monday, the woman, who has not yet been publicly identified, appeared to be in good condition, but was taken to a hospital for treatment, James Long, a Fire Department spokesman, said. She had been trapped since Friday evening, he added. After she was rescued Monday, the woman appeared to be in good condition, but was taken to a hospital for treatment, James Long, a Fire Department spokesman, said. She had been alone in the elevator since Friday evening, he added.
The woman had not been publicly identified by officials as of Monday evening.
Firefighters reported to the home at 48 East 65th Street, a five-story building on the Upper East Side, just after 10 a.m. Monday, after a call from its owners, Mr. Long said. The firefighters forced open the doors of the elevator, which was stuck between the house’s second and third floors.Firefighters reported to the home at 48 East 65th Street, a five-story building on the Upper East Side, just after 10 a.m. Monday, after a call from its owners, Mr. Long said. The firefighters forced open the doors of the elevator, which was stuck between the house’s second and third floors.
Hugo Martinez, 50, who works next door, said the woman appeared conscious and calm when firefighters removed her from the building on a stretcher.Hugo Martinez, 50, who works next door, said the woman appeared conscious and calm when firefighters removed her from the building on a stretcher.
In a statement on Monday, the homeowners, Warren and Harriet Stephens, said the woman has worked for them for 18 years. The couple also said a member of their family accompanied the woman to the hospital, where she was “doing well.” The homeowners, Warren and Harriet Stephens, said in a statement released Monday that the woman has worked for them for 18 years. They also said a member of their family accompanied the woman to the hospital, where she was “doing well.”
The elevator had most recently been inspected in July and no violations were filed, according to city records.The elevator had most recently been inspected in July and no violations were filed, according to city records.
The city Department of Buildings said it was investigating the incident, though an inspector, Devon Simmons, who knocked on the front door Monday was not let into the building.The city Department of Buildings said it was investigating the incident, though an inspector, Devon Simmons, who knocked on the front door Monday was not let into the building.
Mr. Simmons said he would need to do tests to determine what led to the elevator’s malfunction. Until he was given access to the building, he said, the homeowners would be flagged with a violation. The Department of Buildings issued one later that day, a spokeswoman said.Mr. Simmons said he would need to do tests to determine what led to the elevator’s malfunction. Until he was given access to the building, he said, the homeowners would be flagged with a violation. The Department of Buildings issued one later that day, a spokeswoman said.
Mr. Simmons did not know whether the elevator had a phone or emergency button in it. According to the Department of Buildings, buildings that do not have people continuously monitoring them are required to have buttons or phones in their elevators that can signal a service capable of taking action in an emergency.Mr. Simmons did not know whether the elevator had a phone or emergency button in it. According to the Department of Buildings, buildings that do not have people continuously monitoring them are required to have buttons or phones in their elevators that can signal a service capable of taking action in an emergency.
“The cause of this unfortunate incident is being investigated,” the Stephens family said in its statement, “and appropriate measures will be taken to ensure that something like this never happens again.”“The cause of this unfortunate incident is being investigated,” the Stephens family said in its statement, “and appropriate measures will be taken to ensure that something like this never happens again.”
After Mr. Simmons’s visit, a mechanic for Schindler Elevator, an elevator manufacturer, walked out of the townhouse and said his company was working to determine the source of the problem.After Mr. Simmons’s visit, a mechanic for Schindler Elevator, an elevator manufacturer, walked out of the townhouse and said his company was working to determine the source of the problem.
The Stephenses purchased their townhouse, near Madison Avenue and down the block from the fine-dining stalwart Daniel, in 1999. The couple spent nearly $8 million on the home, The New York Times reported later that year. The elevator was installed before they purchased the house. The Stephenses purchased their townhouse, near Madison Avenue and down the block from the fine-dining stalwart Daniel, in 1999. The couple spent nearly $8 million on the home, The New York Times reported later that year. The elevator was installed before they purchased the house, which was built in 1920, property records show.
Mr. Stephens, a billionaire investor originally from Arkansas, is the chairman and chief executive of the investment firm Stephens Inc., which is based in Little Rock, Ark., but also has an office in New York. In 2018, Forbes, which ranked him 302nd on its list of the 400 wealthiest Americans, estimated his net worth at $2.7 billion.Mr. Stephens, a billionaire investor originally from Arkansas, is the chairman and chief executive of the investment firm Stephens Inc., which is based in Little Rock, Ark., but also has an office in New York. In 2018, Forbes, which ranked him 302nd on its list of the 400 wealthiest Americans, estimated his net worth at $2.7 billion.
In 1999, The Times described him as “understated,” and said he and his wife “zealously guarded” their family’s privacy.In 1999, The Times described him as “understated,” and said he and his wife “zealously guarded” their family’s privacy.
The incident was not the first time in recent memory that someone in New York City had been trapped in an elevator for an extended period. In 2005, a deliveryman for a Chinese restaurant was stuck in an elevator in the Bronx for roughly 81 hours.The incident was not the first time in recent memory that someone in New York City had been trapped in an elevator for an extended period. In 2005, a deliveryman for a Chinese restaurant was stuck in an elevator in the Bronx for roughly 81 hours.
In 1999, a man who was returning to his desk from a cigarette break was stuck in an elevator in a Midtown office building for 40 hours. He was freed after a building employee saw him on a security camera. The New Yorker later published video showing how he spent the time.In 1999, a man who was returning to his desk from a cigarette break was stuck in an elevator in a Midtown office building for 40 hours. He was freed after a building employee saw him on a security camera. The New Yorker later published video showing how he spent the time.