Windsor shoppers warned against using ‘dangerous’ lift after man gets trapped

Shoppers in Windsor have been warned not to use a ‘dangerous’ lift after an elderly man became trapped inside it for ‘more than an hour’.

Emergency services - alerted by a vigilant resident - were called to rescue the man from the lift in Goswell Hill, Windsor town centre, last week.

The elevator, operated by Windsor Royal Shopping Centre, takes pedestrians between the ground level near to Windsor Yards car park and the shopping centre.

Windsor Royal told the Express customers’ 'health and safety is our top priority’ and it is investigating.

Ms Johnson, a shopper at the scene who asked to be identified by last name only, said the man appeared ‘scared and distressed’ after the ordeal.

“When the firefighters got him out eventually, he said he’d been there over an hour which is pretty dangerous if you’re elderly,” she said.

Ms Johnson heard the man who was trapped behind the lift’s metal doors alone and ‘shouting’ for help.

She asked him to put his ‘mouth to the door’ so they could better communicate.

He told her he had called lift maintenance who could be ‘25 to 30 minutes away’.

Ms Johnson said she then raised the alarm and called emergency services.

The Goswell Hill lift (Photo: Google Street)

Rescuers arrived soon after who worked to pry open the lift doors.

“They were fantastic. They were there in what seemed like minutes, they just knew what exactly to do,” Ms Johnson said.

“I helped a little bit, I had my stick and I thought we could lever that in the door to get a bit of air going in.”

Once the man had been freed, he received emergency first aid at the scene.

A statement from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 1:05pm on Tuesday, 3 September, we received reports of a man trapped in a lift near Goswell Hill, Windsor.

“Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service crews from Windsor and Slough were sent to the scene.

“Firefighters released the man from the lift and provided Immediate Emergency Care (IEC). Crews were on the scene for about 55 minutes.”

The man, whose identity is unknown, was transferred to the care of an ambulance team.

Ms Johnson wanted to warn others against using the lift amid fears another person could become trapped.

“You never know when this lift’s going to go out of order, it happens so often it’s a bit scary,” she said.

And added: “It’s a small lift, I won’t be able to use it again.

“I think it’s only when you see something like that you realise – that could have been me stuck in there.”

A statement from Windsor Royal said: “The fire service was called to attend Windsor Royal to help release a member of the public from a malfunctioning lift.

“As managers of the centre, the health and safety of customers is our top priority and we are now investigating the incident with the lift engineers to ensure the lifts, which are subject to regular maintenance checks, remain safe and operational.”

Archive picture of the footpath leading to the lift in Goswell Hill