THE TELEGRAGH [16/01/13]
US firefighters cut a hole through concrete and used an air bag and a soapy lubricant to free an Oregon woman who fell and became stuck in a narrow opening between two buildings.
The woman spent about four hours in a space 8 to 10 inches wide. Local and national cable news broadcast footage of the rescue effort and showed the woman emerging from the space at about 7:30am local time (1530GMT).
Firefighters said they did not have an explanation of how the woman got into the predicament.
Lt. Rich Chatman of the Portland fire department said she had been seen smoking or walking on the roof of a two-story building before she fell.
The woman was wedged about four feet above the ground before rescuers installed braces to support her. Firefighters turned on a portable heater to keep her warm in near-freezing temperatures while they dropped an air bag into the opening to slightly spread the walls.
The woman was wedged about four feet above the ground before rescuers installed braces to support her. Firefighters turned on a portable heater to keep her warm in near-freezing temperatures while they dropped an air bag into the opening to slightly spread the walls.
"She was in good spirits," Lt. Chatman said. "We just tried to reassure her ... we weren't going home without her."
After rescuers cut a window-size opening in the concrete wall, Lt. Chatman climbed in to help apply the soapy substance. The woman then wiggled toward the hole as the rescue team tugged on her.
She was taken to the Oregon Health & Science University hospital and appeared to be in good health, fire Lt. Damon Simmons said.
The department's Urban Search and Rescue unit who extricated the woman train for situations such as building collapses and none of the tactics used Wednesday were improvised, Lt. Simmons said.
"They're ready for when the big earthquake hits," he said.
Source: APTN
She was taken to the Oregon Health & Science University hospital and appeared to be in good health, fire Lt. Damon Simmons said.
The department's Urban Search and Rescue unit who extricated the woman train for situations such as building collapses and none of the tactics used Wednesday were improvised, Lt. Simmons said.
"They're ready for when the big earthquake hits," he said.
Source: APTN
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