Trapped! 41 Hours In An Elevator (Video)

Getting stuck in an elevator is everybody's nightmare. But what if you were stuck for 41 hours? What then? Well, it happened to Nicolas White after a cigarette break in 1999, as detailed last week inThe New Yorker's "Up Then Down: The Lives Of Elevators".

White's ordeal was captured on the elevator surveillance camera. His 41-hour nightmare has been condensed into a 3 minute video clip posted on ABCNews.com today. Check it out:

Trapped in an Elevator for 41 Hours - Watch more free videos

So, what's your story? Ever been stuck in an elevator? Do you avoid elevators at all costs? Or, do you hate the stairs and think that elevators are the greatest gift of all time. Tell us your thoughts below!

Comments

[orangeviolet]

The last time my friend Shah saw his boss at the WTC was when she was holding the door open for him to get into the elevator. He opted for the stairs and survived 9-11.

[AbdulScarface]

I stick to the stairs whenever possible. I 'm claustrophobic, I can't stand elevators anyway, just looking at that guy stranded there for 41hours makes my skin crawl. Ouch!!

[Birdwatcher]

It's not exactly the same, but the other day when McCain was at the airport in D.C. there was a power failure and he was stuck on the down escalator for over 4 hours.

[oxygen]

yes I am extremely afraid of elevators and what I really hate is how often you couldn't possibly reach the escape ceiling panel nor would your cell phone work half the time to call somebody for help, I avoid them as much as I do republicans or hillary supporters

[AnnArky]

Now, if we could just condense the elections down to three minutes.

[LeeT]

Yikes.
Ironic. I *was* just trapped in an elevator a couple of weeks ago. Only for a few minutes, but I can tell you that Einstein was correct; time is indeed relative.
And no, you can't just pull open the doors like you see in the movies.

[jungpatawan]

I don't get it... he pried the doors open and saw wall, the he climbed up to the trap no problem... if you go through the trap and stand on the car, you can pry open the outer doors at the next floor.

I could understand if you're physically unable, but he's a fit young guy.

JP

[ajw]

In the article, it says that he opened the door and saw the number "13" written on the wall, but was in an express elevator with no stops before the 39th floor. Fit young guy or not, 26 floors is alot of climbing!

[johnmorgan]

I don't understand how this could happen.

[anney]

Gosh, did he have to pee on the floor where he slept? And isn't 41 hours a long time to go without liquids?

Yeah, maybe this should teach people to carry a cell phone with them everywhere.

[joeytomatoes]

Anybody know the music to this video ? Anyone.

[AnnArky]

Elevator music!

[aristippe]

awesome video, poor guy

[FITNESSSF]

That's crazy....and curious that a short film on youtube is nearly about the same but it was fiction. Life imitating art....or is it art imitating life....just a curious thought.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMPn7WNztN0

[SNS]

May whoever at HuffPo who decided to post this video, whatever person of management at Huffpo approved the story for posting, along with anyone who viewed this video and posted a comment making fun of the trapped person, have the most humiliating 41 hours of their lives captured on video and shown to the world, as well.

[JuniorBug]

Be honest: are you trapped in an elevator right now?

[evildoer]

Why is ABC news reporting a story from 1999?

[Highse]

Strange........no security guard in an office bldg. No emergency telephone in the elevator car. After pressing the button for an alarm, no connection to a security operation or center for someone trapped in a car over the weekend. Strange. After his ordeal rest assured there will be modifications.

[TheCowman]

There were security guards on duty...supposedly as many as 6 different security guards on their shifts throughout the weekend and none of them bothered to look at the friggen TV screen of the elevator to see the dude in there.

I feel bad for him...he definitely got shafted (sorry for the pun)

[CaptainHowdy]

What's so strange about greedy corporations cutting back on ESSENTIAL manpower in order to make an extra buck or two.

GREED IS GOOD!!! It's the American way...

[MaracaKabob]

It's been like that here in the USA ever since the Bush coup, only there's 1000 channels of cable tv.

[Chiang]

The story happened in 1999.

[BigLib]

Doesn't matter. It's still Bush's fault.

[Chiang]

I don't know. Everything is not Bush's fault. Maybe it was due to global warming.

[BobSF94117]

Heck of a way to quit smoking!

[GoodwithWood]

That sucks.

[RickO]

Never go anywhere without your cell phone!

[nobullshit]

It was 1999 they werent as prevalent as they are today. Maybe he didnt have one.