The Gun Counter

Poor bastard. I'll bet he was never quite right in the head after this. What would you do in a similar situation? Could the interior bolted hatch be opened if he had a crowbar? I know this inventive group is not much for following "official policy," so rather than just meekly waiting for rescue, I'm sure some inventive solutions would be tried. FIRE AWAY!

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008 ... paumgarten

Don't forget to click on the video link showing a time lapse security cam diary of his ordeal!

That makes it easy to visualize the mental condition known as "bouncing off the walls".

Not carrying a cell phone was a mistake. (I'm inferring from his location and probable type of work that he probably does own a cell phone). As much as I disdain the "yuppie toys" and have no confidence in them during a SHTF situation, they do have a place.

I'd be having some SERIOUS words with whoever was responsible for monitoring/checking the security tapes. I understand about not doing constant surveillance on all cameras at all times, but you would think that a set of eyeballs would have been on that monitor at least once in almost 2 days.

I've seen 12" Ti crow bars sold before - I thought about carrying one in a briefcase for just such occasions...

Aglifter wrote:I've seen 12" Ti crow bars sold before - I thought about carrying one in a briefcase for just such occasions...

He was able to get the doors open, but it looked like he was between floors or even dropped below the basement (in a position for maintenance to work on the top of the elevator). I suppose you could use the crowbar to make your own opening at the top of the elevator except you don't know if you're going to be hitting an external support beam/mounts/bars, etc., etc.

I always have the urge to jump up and punch one of the ceiling 'tiles' in an elevator, just to see if it'll pop up.

308Mike wrote:

Aglifter wrote:I've seen 12" Ti crow bars sold before - I thought about carrying one in a briefcase for just such occasions...

He was able to get the doors open, but it looked like he was between floors or even dropped below the basement (in a position for maintenance to work on the top of the elevator). I suppose you could use the crowbar to make your own opening at the top of the elevator except you don't know if you're going to be hitting an external support beam/mounts/bars, etc., etc.

Story says it was an express elevator with no stops below the 39th floor.

Sh!t happens--as a former firefighter, we were told to get the elevator people there --those things can be a tricky situation.
Unless there was a life threatening problem, stand by and get the "experts"!

I was told the same thing by an elevator tech. You're not going to die of boredom, but just about anything you do to get out of the elevator has a better-n-average chance of killing you.