Woman Rescued After Falling Multiple Floors Down Apartment Trash Chute

A New Jersey woman had to be rescued by firefighters after she fell down a trash chute from the 14th floor of an apartment building.

The frightening incident happened Sunday, June 7, at 150 Main Street in Hackensack, according to the Hackensack Fire Department.

Fire officials said they were called to the building around 1 p.m. after receiving a report that a woman had entered the trash chute on the 14th floor and fallen to an unknown location inside.

At first, rescue crews could not find her.

After investigating, firefighters discovered the woman had fallen to around the third or fourth floor and was trapped inside the chute with backed-up garbage.

Crews quickly began working to get her out. Some firefighters used saws to remove panels from the trash chute discharge area, while other teams prepared for the possibility of a rope rescue or even breaching a wall.

Firefighters continued removing piles of trash from the chute until they were finally able to pull the woman out feet first.

The rescue took about 28 minutes from the time crews were dispatched, officials said.

The woman, whose name has not been released, was placed in the care of EMS. Her condition was not immediately clear.

One firefighter suffered an arm injury during the operation and was treated.

After the rescue, all firefighters and equipment involved had to be decontaminated.

Photos shared by the Hackensack Fire Department showed large piles of garbage covering much of the floor near the trash chute. The chute also appeared to be overflowing with debris.

People online praised the fire department for handling such an unusual and difficult rescue.

“Very strange good job to all personnel, always ready for the unexpected Kudos,” one person wrote.

“Holy Technical Rescue, Batman! Job well done, lads!” another commenter said.

A third added, “It’s never a dull moment in the fire service you never know what you’re coming on duty for, great job guys.”

Authorities have not said how the woman ended up inside the chute.