Stuck in air for three hours, without losing their cool

Stuck in air for three hours, without losing their cool

Nissar Hoath

3 March 2011

ABU DHABI — Over a 100 spectators watched rescue teams from the Abu Dhabi Police and the Civil Defence save the lives of two Asian workers suspended mid-air in the cradle for more than three hours while cleaning one of the capital’s tallest buildings.

Eyewitnesses and an Abu Dhabi Police rescue personnel at the scene said the accident may have been caused by strong winds that forced the window cleaning cradle to twist and move to the other side.

The 50-storey building, Salma Tower, is located on Zayed the Second Street (widely known as Electra Street). The two workers were cleaning the building on the side facing the street when strong winds swung the cradle as it was coming down. Its four parallel metallic cables got twisted, seizing the motor. With the cables twisted the cradle, which was also a bit tilted, could neither move up nor down.

The cradle hung on the 37^th floor with no windows to pull the cleaners in, making it more difficult for the rescue operation. They were later rescued from the windows on the 38^th and 39^th floors. The cleaners were lifted with the help of safety jackets tied with strong strings, while on the ground a huge inflated mattress was laid for further safety.

“The rescue teams are busy trying to bring them down safely. Every effort is being made to save their lives. The strong winds are creating hurdles but they will be rescued safely,” the personnel from the Abu Dhabi Police said while the rescue operation was going on

Strong teams of the Civil Defence, Rescue and Emergency Unit at the Abu Dhabi Police, paramedics and the Traffic and Patrols Department reached the spot on time and cordoned off the surrounding area. An eyewitness said the accident happened at around 2pm. Strong winds were blowing at that time he said.

“I was walking near the building when I heard a huge sound. I looked up to see the cleaning cradle with two workers stuck on the other side of the building facing the new NMC Specialty Hospital building. The cradle came to the left side of the building from the Electra Street side,” he narrated.

The rescue drama continued for over three hours with the horrified public on the ground praying for the lives of the cleaners. Immediately after their rescue, the two workers were assisted and consoled by paramedics and other experts.

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