Chicago Tribune
DEERFIELD, Ill. — A window washer who suffered serious injuries after falling into a deep hole in Deerfield Tuesday was rescued by firefighters who raised him out in a rescue basket, officials said.
The 47-year-old man was washing windows at the ArborLake Centre office building at 1751 Lake Cook Road when he stepped on a grate that gave way, causing him to fall into a 20-foot-deep ventilation shaft, according to a news release from the Northbrook Fire Department. Although the man was conscious and alert, he suffered multiple injuries.
Rescue workers lowered a ladder down to treat the worker, and removed broken grates blocking the 3-foot-wide shaft. Because the 3-foot-wide shaft was too narrow to carry the worker out, a technical rescue team with members from various fire departments used a special hook, rope and pulley system to lower a rescue basket into the shaft and lift the patient out, the release stated.
Paramedics then took the worker to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. Deerfield Police are investigating the incident.
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