Pattaya Workers Rescued After Hour-Long Lift Ordeal

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of AEC TV Online

 

In Pattaya, a normal workday spiralled into chaos for three construction workers when an elevator malfunction trapped them for over an hour. Their ordeal, filled with sweating and panicked cries for help, finally concluded as rescue teams arrived just in the nick of time.

 

The incident unfolded yesterday evening, sending shockwaves through Soi Arunothai in the Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri. At 6.16pm, an urgent call was placed to Pattaya City’s Disaster Prevention Centre, reporting that three workers were stranded inside a malfunctioning lift.

 

The unfortunate trio, identified as 49-year-old Thanayaporn, 54-year-old Samruay, and 55-year-old Bunyasri, had just wrapped up their painting duties on the 11th floor of a building.

 

Disaster struck during their descent when the elevator abruptly halted between the second and third floors, leaving the workers trapped in a nerve-wracking limbo.

 

For more than an hour, they sought to signal for help, desperately pressing the emergency buttons, hammering on the doors, and shouting into the void—yet, their pleas seemed unheard. The atmosphere within grew increasingly stifling, and panic began to take hold.

 

 

 

"We were going up from the 11th floor when the elevator stalled," recounted Bunyasri. Faced with the gravity of the situation, he managed to call his son, imploring him to alert the emergency services to their plight.

 

Reacting swiftly, the Pattaya City Disaster Prevention Centre dispatched a dedicated rescue team, armed with hydraulic equipment crucial for prying open the jammed elevator. Arriving with urgency and professionalism, the rescue workers evaluated the scenario and immediately reassured the trapped men that help was imminent.

 

Employing hydraulic pry tools with precision, rescuers painstakingly forced the elevator doors open, prioritising the safety of those inside. After a tense hour-long operation, the doors finally budged, allowing the workers to be pulled to safety.

 

Despite the harrowing experience, all three emerged unharmed—a significant relief following their exhaustive confinement. Their escape not only highlights the critical response of Pattaya's emergency services but also serves as a potent reminder of the everyday risks endured by workers.

 

As they look to recover from this frightful episode, Thanayaporn and his team are undoubtedly grateful for the timely intervention that returned them to solid ground and safety, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-20

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

but also serves as a potent reminder of the everyday risks endured by workers.

 

These are not every day risks.

These events are very rare under the circumstances.

[Wuvu2]

That would be a nightmare for an old dude like me. I'll be taking a pee before getting on any elevator for the next few days 😊

[thesetat]

On 3/20/2025 at 4:54 PM, webfact said:

Employing hydraulic pry tools with precision, rescuers painstakingly forced the elevator doors open, prioritising the safety of those inside. After a tense hour-long operation, the doors finally budged, allowing the workers to be pulled to safety.

I am not an elevator expert but don't elevator doors have a release catch that allows you to open the door? 

Also, don't the elevators have a hatch in the ceiling that opens to allow escape from a trapped elevator? 

I would have thought these things are standard elevator safety protocols. So why the hour long drama prying open the doors? 

[PETERTHEEATER]

1 hour ago, thesetat said:

I am not an elevator expert but don't elevator doors have a release catch that allows you to open the door? 

Also, don't the elevators have a hatch in the ceiling that opens to allow escape from a trapped elevator? 

I would have thought these things are standard elevator safety protocols. So why the hour long drama prying open the doors? 

I guess they couldn't locate the elevator stuck when descending 'between the second and third floor' because, according to one of the victims "We were going up from the 11th floor when the elevator stalled," recounted Bunyasri 😋

[RayWright]

Unlike Western countries, you're tempting fate when entering a lift out here.

My last Condo had an emergency phone, however rather than auto-dial the lift service company or an emergency response company, it rang a handset on the wall on the 1st (Ground) floor. Not the manned Juristic office or the security hut. Tried it once, only to find someone had turned the volume down. 

As @thesetat mentioned, lift doors have an external emergency release door opener. However, if the emergency response team didn't have the correct key, would explain the use of the "jaws of life".

Top Tip. Always have your mobile when entering a lift. Not 100% guaranteed to work with reception issues when inside the lift, but better than relying on the emergency phone, if there is one.

[Dexxter]

4 hours ago, RayWright said:

Unlike Western countries, you're tempting fate when entering a lift out here.

 

I better start using the stairs from now on. Imagine how much exercise I will be getting since I live on the 19th floor.

[jacko45k]

20 hours ago, thesetat said:

I am not an elevator expert but don't elevator doors have a release catch that allows you to open the door? 

Also, don't the elevators have a hatch in the ceiling that opens to allow escape from a trapped elevator? 

I would have thought these things are standard elevator safety protocols. So why the hour long drama prying open the doors? 

The catch is usually not accessible to the passengers, and climbing out from a safe location into a dark lift shaft full of cables and pulleys is just for Hollywood. 

[watchcat]

On 3/22/2025 at 2:06 AM, thesetat said:

Also, don't the elevators have a hatch in the ceiling that opens to allow escape from a trapped elevator?

 

And where would they go