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Victoria Fd In The News
Kuul story from my home town. 
Rescuers save man from plunge down shaft
Carolyn Heiman and Rob Shaw, Times Colonist Published: Friday, February 02, 2007
Victoria firefighters pulled off one of the most unusual rescues in recent memory yesterday, saving a man in an electric scooter who was dangling precariously over a four-storey elevator shaft at 1322 Blanshard St.
"This has been my worst day in years," said David Hodgkinson last night as he recounting the harrowing tale.
The 44-year-old said he was leaving his fourth floor apartment "in a rush" on his way to an appointment around 9 a.m. As the elevator doors opened, he said he drove forward on his scooter, failing to notice that the elevator wasn't there, it was just an empty shaft.
"The front wheel went over" and the scooter tipped forward, leaving Hodgkinson in the seat but looking down the drop-off.
Only Hodgkinson's right hand -- which was pinned between the door and the scooter -- kept him from tipping over and plunging four floors, said Lieut. Mark Wells, one of the Victoria Fire Department officers who responded to the call.
"He was basically seated in his chair staring at the bottom of the elevator shaft," said Wells. "He was hanging by his right arm."
It is likely his cries for help alerted other building residents, who called 911, said Wells.
"I was screaming bloody murder," Hodgkinson said. "I kept telling the rescuers I was going to let go and they kept saying 'No, no, no, you can't do that.' They kept telling me that 15 to 20 times."
The first police officers on scene grabbed the back of the four-wheel scooter to keep it from falling.
The elevator itself was on the first floor. Emergency crews cut power to prevent it from moving up and crushing the man.
Rescue crews managed to get a rope around Hodgkinson and the scooter. Two firefighters climbed the elevator shaft and used a harness to lower the man to the safety of the third floor, said Wells.
Hodgkinson was taken to hospital to be examined but was released shortly after. He said he had a sore wrist.
Hodgkinson, who uses a scooter several times a week due to a chronic illness that causes fatigue, said there have been ongoing problems with the elevator door.
But the building manager denied the accusation, said Const. Lori Beauvais. Elevator repair crews spent yesterday examining the site.
"It was a very difficult rescue, and the firefighters and the police did a great job," Wells said. More than 16 Victoria firefighters (almost the entire duty shift) and seven high-angle rescue firefighters from Saanich participated in the rescue.
"It's one of those unique calls you might see once in your career," said Wells. "But the outcome was good in the end."
Hodgkinson said the rescue took an hour but it felt like an eternity.
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2007
Rescuers save man from plunge down shaft
Carolyn Heiman and Rob Shaw, Times Colonist Published: Friday, February 02, 2007
Victoria firefighters pulled off one of the most unusual rescues in recent memory yesterday, saving a man in an electric scooter who was dangling precariously over a four-storey elevator shaft at 1322 Blanshard St.
"This has been my worst day in years," said David Hodgkinson last night as he recounting the harrowing tale.
The 44-year-old said he was leaving his fourth floor apartment "in a rush" on his way to an appointment around 9 a.m. As the elevator doors opened, he said he drove forward on his scooter, failing to notice that the elevator wasn't there, it was just an empty shaft.
"The front wheel went over" and the scooter tipped forward, leaving Hodgkinson in the seat but looking down the drop-off.
Only Hodgkinson's right hand -- which was pinned between the door and the scooter -- kept him from tipping over and plunging four floors, said Lieut. Mark Wells, one of the Victoria Fire Department officers who responded to the call.
"He was basically seated in his chair staring at the bottom of the elevator shaft," said Wells. "He was hanging by his right arm."
It is likely his cries for help alerted other building residents, who called 911, said Wells.
"I was screaming bloody murder," Hodgkinson said. "I kept telling the rescuers I was going to let go and they kept saying 'No, no, no, you can't do that.' They kept telling me that 15 to 20 times."
The first police officers on scene grabbed the back of the four-wheel scooter to keep it from falling.
The elevator itself was on the first floor. Emergency crews cut power to prevent it from moving up and crushing the man.
Rescue crews managed to get a rope around Hodgkinson and the scooter. Two firefighters climbed the elevator shaft and used a harness to lower the man to the safety of the third floor, said Wells.
Hodgkinson was taken to hospital to be examined but was released shortly after. He said he had a sore wrist.
Hodgkinson, who uses a scooter several times a week due to a chronic illness that causes fatigue, said there have been ongoing problems with the elevator door.
But the building manager denied the accusation, said Const. Lori Beauvais. Elevator repair crews spent yesterday examining the site.
"It was a very difficult rescue, and the firefighters and the police did a great job," Wells said. More than 16 Victoria firefighters (almost the entire duty shift) and seven high-angle rescue firefighters from Saanich participated in the rescue.
"It's one of those unique calls you might see once in your career," said Wells. "But the outcome was good in the end."
Hodgkinson said the rescue took an hour but it felt like an eternity.
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2007
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