For only about a week has 1 World Trade Center been officially open for business, and already a heart-stopping crisis has been averted. It takes a special kind of bravery to choose to wash the windows of the 104-story building, and for Juan Lizama, 41, and Juan Lopez, 33, yesterday, Nov. 12 was business as usual.
At least, until 12:42 p.m., when the slack in their scaffolding became uneven and collapsed, leaving them dangling. Within minutes the two men found themselves trapped in almost a completely vertical position between the 68th and 69th floors. Thankfully, this story had a happy ending: Both men have been released from the hospital and are safely at home this morning.
According to John McDermott, president of Upgrade Service, the company that employs Lizama and Lopez, the accident itself "appears to be equipment failure of the traction hoist brake mechanism that supports one side of the rig. The world of high-rise window cleaning is a fraternity and we all are relieved that both of our brothers were rescued safely today."
The FDNY also praised the men for remaining calm, according to ABC News, and following their safety protocols while waiting for 90 minutes as emergency workers acted to bring them to safety.
The building opened its doors last week after the original WTC was destroyed on 9/11. It may be an economic center, but for many it will always be known as "Ground Zero," and with that is a sense of emotional connection. Yesterday's scaffolding accident brought people running to watch as the FDNY ultimately cut through several layers of glass on the 68th floor in order to bring both men inside, according to the (New York) Daily News.
Ground Zero is probably one of the few areas in the city of which people collectively cannot stomach the thought of another devastating incident occurring. Enough life has already been lost there, and that underlying feeling made the crowd pulling for Lizama and Lopez on the ground below that more united.
Readers: Were you at 1 WTC yesterday to witness the rescue? What are your views on window washing? Comment below.
