Seven rescued from stuck Taj elevator

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Seven rescued from stuck Taj elevator

By ERIC SCOTT CAMPBELL Staff Writer, 609-272-7227

Published: Monday, September 29, 2008

ATLANTIC CITY - Firefighters removed all seven passengers from a stuck express elevator at Trump Taj Mahal on Sunday night, climbing down to the car from two floors above and pulling them out one at a time.

No one was injured or ill during the two-hour ordeal, said fire Capt. Bob Soifer, who called it a "textbook rescue."

The car stopped near the 27th floor at about 7:50 p.m. Passengers were able to communicate with rescue personnel via the phone and camera inside the elevator.

Representatives of Otis Elevator, the car's manufacturer, were at the scene and have begun investigating the cause of the malfunction, Taj spokesman Tom Hickey said.

"The problem will be fixed as soon as possible," Hickey said.

The final passenger was removed just before 10 p.m. The first passenger pulled out was a woman in a wheelchair, Soifer said.

Two firefighters climbed down inch-thick ropes to reach the passengers, all of whom were believed to be casino guests, The passengers then were pulled up, one at a time, by four or five firefighters on the 29th floor.

The door on top of the car measured 2 feet square, Soifer said.

Following the rescue, casino employees scrambled to bring water and ice to the firefighters and victims, who were escorted to rooms where they were examined by medical personnel.

E-mail Eric Scott Campbell:

ECampbell@pressofac.com