Worker dies after being trapped in lift shaft at Hong Kong site, probe under way
Man, 57, had been working on a lift in a building under construction at Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam
Hong Kong authorities have launched an investigation into an industrial accident at a Queen Mary Hospital building under construction in Pok Fu Lam, in which a worker died after being trapped in a lift shaft for nearly two hours.
The Labour Department said on Sunday night that upon receiving a report, it immediately deployed staff to the scene and was currently investigating the cause.
The worker, 57, had been carrying out power supply maintenance for a lift at the building on Pok Fu Lam Road at 5.40pm on Sunday. The man was stuck between the ground floor and lower ground floor when he was hit by the lift.
A police source said the man had started working for the lift company last month. His working hours on Sunday were from 9am to 6pm.
His colleague, also 57, told investigators he had heard abnormal sounds from inside the lift shaft when the lift suddenly descended and crushed the victim.
The colleague, who was unharmed, immediately called for help from emergency services.
Rescuers reached the unconscious man at about 7.25pm and he was sent to the hospital’s accident and emergency department. But he was declared dead at 7.35pm.