An elevator worker was critically injured when the lift he was working on fell on him in a Lafayette Street building Wednesday morning — the second such incident in the city in fewer than 24 hours, FDNY officials said.
The worker, whose identity wasn't immediately released, was doing some "routine repairs" in an elevator shaft next to the Great Jones Street entrance to 380 Lafayette St. when the lift car landed on him, crushing his arm, sources said.
"It was a freak accident," said another worker who was with him, but wouldn't give his name.
"It sounded like a bulldozer fell over. I heard screaming, the guy screaming for three minutes," said Jeff Kaplan, 28, who was working across the street at the time.
Rescue crews used a hoist on a ladder to raise the elevator up enough for them to pull the worker to safety, FDNY officials said.
The worker was pinned under an elevator that is used to bring down supplies from Great Jones Street to the basement of 380 Lafayette St. (DNAinfo/Ben Fractenberg)
"The rescue medics got access to him. They were able to get him some drugs and had him out in about 10 minutes," said FDNY Battallion Chief Martin Lindquist.
He was then taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he's being treated for life-threatening injuries, officials said.
Lindquist praised the responding officers.
"The guys did a great job. They were here quick. They knew exactly what to do. They did a real nice job," Lindquist said.
The company that employed the worker, Major Elevator, didn't immediately return a request for comment.