It's the stuff of nightmares, isn't it? You're helplessly stuck in a lift, plummeting down to the ground uncontrollably...
Well this nightmare came true for a Singaporean family just this weekend. According to a Channel NewsAsia report, on Saturday (July 1) the family – which included a little girl aged 10 – were visiting relatives in celebration of Hari Raya Puasa when the disaster happened.
They were in a lift in Block 542 Jurong West Ave 1.
Falling...
Mr Zulkiffle Saad, who was in the lift when the incident happened, told Channel NewsAsia that there were five people travelling in the elevator on the day.
When the lift stopped on the fourth floor, Mr Saad was about to get off when he heard a loud "SNAP" sound from above.
He was quickly dragged back into the lift by his brother-in-law, says the news report, and the door closed again.
Mr Saad explains that a few seconds after that, the lift fell back to the ground floor. "One-third of the lift crashed below ground level and we got stuck," he added.
At this point, he was very afraid that the ceiling would collapse on them, so he and his brother-in-law attempted to open the door with their bare hands.
"Thank God I managed to pull open the door from inside with my bare hands," he told Channel NewsAsia. "My thumb was swollen, but it was important that we got out of there. We then helped each other climb out of the lift.
Mr Saad told The Straits Times that his sister was currently warded in the Accident and Emergency department of Ng Teng Fong General Hospital for a fractured leg. Her family is organising to move her to Khoo Teck Phuat Hospital for an operation on a torn ligament.
Both Mr Saad and his brother-in-law reportedly suffered back pain from the incident. His daughter suffered bruises and is now scared to take the lift.
Yesterday afternoon, Mr Saad's daughter, Ms Raudhah Putri, described what happened in a Facebook post.
www.facebook.com/snrpzs/posts/10210472873592374?pnref=story
According to The Straits Times, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has issued a notice to suspend the lift at Block 542 Jurong West Avenue 1 for further investigation.
Sources:The Straits Times, Channel NewsAsia
We at theAsianparent are glad that the family is now safe and did not sustain severe injuries in the incident. Our best wishes go out to them.