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Original poster

Have you ever been stuck in a lift?

70 replies

MrsDeanWinchester75 · 30/01/2019 21:45

Just wondering how often it happens and how long you're stuck for.

I'm scared of getting stuck so never use them but my Mum is struggling with stairs now but doesn't like to use lifts on her own so I need to start getting over my phobia.

I was talking to a member of staff in Debenhams earlier about it and he told me they're always breaking down, I asked how long before they get people out and he said "not long, about an hour".Shock

OP posts:
nervousbreakdown · 30/01/2019 21:49

At work yes, for all of 3 minutes though - was a theatre lift in a hospital so we had a patient and the porter I was with was having none of it - somehow managed to open the doors with his hands ... stupid man tbh but we got out . I’ve known colleagues get stuck for an hour or so though . Usually I’m crap overused lifts ie most hospitals (seriously, one building I visited actually had iron shutters for the lifts still) , not so much in nicer places like cinemas , shopping centres etc .

JaiNotJay · 30/01/2019 21:50

No. But then I do always take the stairs whenever possible! I haven't ever known anyone who's been stuck in a lift either, I think it is pretty rare that it happens.

Watto1 · 30/01/2019 21:51

Only once. I was at uni. It got stuck between floors. Fortunately, the doors still opened , although the floor was above head height so we couldn't get out. Luckily, I happened to be stuck with a guy I had fancied for ages. Every cloud! Was only stuck for 5 mins before the caretaker manually wound the lift down to the floor below.

EdHelpPls · 30/01/2019 21:55

Yes, when extremely heavily pregnant and was heading to the loo. Was just over an hour and it was a tiny lift. Was poor timing for my first ever bout of braxton hicks. I honestly thought labour had started.

Lindy2 · 30/01/2019 21:59

Not a lift but I got stuck in a glass revolving door once. Everyone was waving at me and giving me the thumbs up as I stood inside it waiting for the security guard to get it revolving again. Luckily it didn't take too long.

gunnergirl · 30/01/2019 22:01

Yep lived on 9th floor had my 6week old dd with me had to be rescued by the fireman tbh had a fear since

Chinks123 · 30/01/2019 22:03

Yes once, for about an hour. It was a hotel in Spain and I was terrified, the worst part was the doors were open so I could see the long drop and cables etc. It’s making me queasy just thinking about it.

gottachangethename1 · 30/01/2019 22:13

At Heathrow in the late 70s. I was about 5yrs old but can still remember the lift stopping and all the lights going out. I was scared of the dark so my dad lit his cigarette lighter and held it aloft (no health and safety concerns back then) my mum hated lifts ever since.

Original poster
MrsDeanWinchester75 · 30/01/2019 22:18

Crikey, seems like the Debenhams guy wasn't exaggerating about being in there an hour.

OP posts:
Wingbing · 30/01/2019 22:23

I got stuck in the Lift in Mothercare, early 90s. We were stuck there flat half an hour. It was my birthday too.

Wingbing · 30/01/2019 22:24

for half an hour

Scandaloso · 30/01/2019 22:30

I have been stuck in a lift but that was fine. What wasn't fine was the time I got into the ancient lift in the ancient building I was working in and instead of going to the 6th floor the lift went to the basement, the lights went out and the door slowly creaked open. Like I was in a shitty horror film. I had to walk out into this pitch black basement, that was covered in cobwebs, didn't look like anyone had been down there since 1925, and had to feel my way along the wall for about five minutes until I found a door leading to a stairs. I remember whimpering to myself 'I am not going to die in this basement'. Grin

Scandaloso · 30/01/2019 22:31

But lifts in shopping centres and department stores are absolutely fine. Nothing to fear from them. Just the poorly maintained ones in crappy old office buildings.

Lisaloo15 · 30/01/2019 22:32

Yep! When I was in labour of all times - the paramedics and I got stuck in the lift leaving the local maternity unit. I was being ambulanced to hospital and the lift stopped half way, luckily it was only for maybe 15mins but that is a long time when contractions are in full flow!

greenelephantscarf · 30/01/2019 22:34

yes, but only for 15 min or so.

ShatnersBassoon · 30/01/2019 22:36

Yes, at work, for more than an hour. It took them ages to locate me, and the lift had stopped short of the floor so I had to wait for them to do something to get it lined up with the door. I was on my own and had coffee and a newspaper, which made it quite enjoyable really.

Thisisthelaststraw · 30/01/2019 22:37

I was stuck in one when I was 8yo. Well, I thought I was stuck and began screaming and kicking at the door. Sheer panic. Someone on the outside pressed the button to use the lift and the door opened. I think I must have gotten in and not hit the button or something. Anyway, I wasn’t stuck but thought I was and I have had a fear ever since.

I have to use them regularly in work whether I like it or not. I try to rationalise it.. maintained regularly. Several lines holding them up so even if one snapped there are more. There are emergency brakes. It helps a little to conquer the fear.

PerfectPeony · 30/01/2019 22:39

No I haven’t. But I have a bit of anxiety about it. I’d never get into a lift if I desperately needed a wee. 😂

bevelino · 30/01/2019 22:41

Yes in a residential tower block and the lift dropped right to the very bottom of the shaft and when the doors eventually opened there was a brick wall in front of us. None of our phones worked and we had to sit it out for 2 hours until the fire brigade rescued us.

Scandaloso · 30/01/2019 22:42

A couple of years ago people were stuck in a cable car over Mont Blanc for a night. Can you imagine? You'd have to designate someone's backpack as the toilet and everyone would have to turn around if someone needed to poo or wee into the toilet bag. And politely ignore any smells or noises. The horror.

MintyCedric · 30/01/2019 22:44

43yo and have never been stuck in lift.

My mum has, about 50+ years ago and won't use them, which is a massive pita as Dad is currently in hospital on the second floor and having to get an 80yo with a heart condition up 4 flights of stairs is neither fun nor quick!

ifoundthebread · 30/01/2019 22:44

A few month ago dp, myself and the kids got stuck in one in out local shopping centre. We were in there around 20 minutes, felt like forever, more so because of our very dramatic 3 year old - "we've been in here agessss, we're going to be stuck forever", "what happens if the shops are shut when we get out?" and so on 😂

Cakeandslippers · 30/01/2019 22:44

Yes in a big hotel in Tenerife. The lift was one of about 4 lifts and was in a big glass tube in a huge lobby area so we could see all the reception staff and people sat having drinks and were frantically waving but no one was noticing. We were just below a floor so my friend started to pull open the doors so we could try and climb out... much to the horror of a Spanish family with us in the lift who were terrified and tried desperately to pull her away from the door. Eventually someone appeared and pulled opened the doors from the floor above and we climbed out. We saw it happen to other people twice in the week we were there!

MintyCedric · 30/01/2019 22:45

Weirdly I frequently dream of being a lift that goes into free fall though Confused

nancy75 · 30/01/2019 22:49

I got stuck in a chair lift dangling over a mountain in a ski holiday ( it’s basically a metal bench attached to a wire, with a lap bar to keep you in but totally open to the elements) - it just stopped for about 45 minutes. I was a teenager & don’t remember being scared - if it happened now I’d lose my mind!