A routine repair job turned into a six-hour ordeal for an Illinois maintenance worker who became stranded 130 feet in the air inside a gas station sign after his equipment failed Tuesday.
AJ Gow was performing repair work on a gas station sign near Interstate 55 just before 11:00 a.m. when his telescopic boom lift malfunctioned, leaving him trapped 13 stories above ground with no way to descend.
The Wilmington Fire Protection District received a call about the stranded worker around 2:00 p.m. and dispatched its Technical Rescue Team, which specializes in confined space, collapse, and high angle rescue operations. However, crews quickly discovered their standard equipment was inadequate for the situation.
Equipment Limitations Complicated Rescue
The fire department’s 100-foot ladders fell 30 feet short of reaching Gow’s position. According to Deputy Chief Todd Friddle, the sign pole had no built-in ladders or stairs that rescue personnel could use to climb up to the victim, as would typically be done in high angle rescue scenarios. The victim’s height also exceeded the capabilities of the department’s ladder trucks.
Rescue teams located a boom lift in a town approximately 17 miles away that could reach the necessary height and transported it to the scene. While waiting for the equipment to arrive, crews used an aerial drone to monitor Gow’s condition. Despite his precarious situation, the maintenance worker reportedly gave an optimistic thumbs-up to the drone camera.
Safe Return After Hours-Long Wait
Around 4:00 p.m., roughly six hours after the malfunction occurred, the specialized boom lift arrived and rescue personnel successfully brought Gow back to ground level. The operation concluded with no injuries to either the victim or rescue workers.
Following his rescue, Gow expressed gratitude to the emergency responders who came to his aid. In a Facebook post, he wrote, “Thank you to every department that showed up for me today. It was greatly appreciated! Seeing that lift roll up with police escorts was the highlight of my day for sure!!”
In comments on social media, Gow shared additional details about his harrowing experience. He posted a photo of himself standing inside the sign and described the uncomfortable conditions he endured. “I was up there on this. [I] couldn’t fully stand either and it kept swaying with the wind. It was miserable,” he told a friend.
Physical and Emotional Toll
Despite the successful rescue, Gow reported experiencing severe dehydration and anxiety during the incident. He described an adrenaline rush when he saw the rescue lift arriving, which gave him what he called a “2nd wind.” However, the aftermath was less pleasant.
“After the adrenaline crash, I felt like crap all night and still do,” Gow said, though he indicated he was otherwise fine following the ordeal.
The incident highlights both the risks maintenance workers face when performing elevated repairs and the specialized equipment and coordination required for high-altitude rescue operations that exceed standard fire department capabilities.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/see-it-man-trapped-130-feet-in-the-air-in-gas-station-sign