Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

I got stuck in a broken lift today. Has anyone else been stuck in a lift?

65 replies

Redheadedstepchild · 19/08/2025 17:48

I'm alright, obviously, I'm here now but here's what happened:

I live in a block of flats which has three storeys and an underground garage space. My flat is on the second floor. I got in and pressed zero. Ground floor.

The lift went down really quickly, then came back up again a bit and the doors wouldn't open although the digital display was showing level 1 but like this <1> Or could have been like this >1<

Which I took to mean stuck but mainly at level 1. Or in between floors.

Then it just stayed there.

I pressed a few more buttons in panic then it went very quickly again into the basement garage with a bit of a bump and eventually the doors opened and I managed to find the stairs up to the ground floor in the dark (I don't know the layout of the garage or where the light switches are because I don't have a car.)

I don't know whether my button pressing had anything to do with it hurtling into the basement or not.

What happened?

This doesn't sound too bad now I've written it down but I think that it's one of those experiences that seems to last a lot longer than it actually does.

That lift really did go down fast though.

I've phoned and left messages with the lift company and the copropriété.

I feel a bit wobbly. Still, I'm sure some of you will have survived worse.

OP posts:
thejadefish · 19/08/2025 17:55

I've never been stuck in a lift but once I went on a 2 week holiday abroad and the lift doors kept closing on me, as in I'd be in the doorway they would close on me and the resistance caused by my body being between the doors caused them to open again. Happened 5 or 6 times at least. It didn't hurt, but I'm always nervous about lift doors now (I was on the 20th floor or something like that and I wasn't up for taking the stairs). Sounds scary being trapped though, I'd be pretty shaken if that happened to me. Hope you're ok now and they investigate and fix the lift x

nocoolnamesleft · 19/08/2025 18:01

No, but that was because I went up the stairs as it wasn't a very big lift. And then, when it stopped between floors, I was passing extra oxygen cylinders and other kit to my registrar who was stuck in the lift with a neonate on a resuscitaire. Fortunately maintenance responded quickly, but ever since I have been nervous of hospitals with labour ward and SCBU on different floors. That was, however, long enough ago that the patient will be an adult by now.

Original poster
Redheadedstepchild · 19/08/2025 18:07

thejadefish · 19/08/2025 17:55

I've never been stuck in a lift but once I went on a 2 week holiday abroad and the lift doors kept closing on me, as in I'd be in the doorway they would close on me and the resistance caused by my body being between the doors caused them to open again. Happened 5 or 6 times at least. It didn't hurt, but I'm always nervous about lift doors now (I was on the 20th floor or something like that and I wasn't up for taking the stairs). Sounds scary being trapped though, I'd be pretty shaken if that happened to me. Hope you're ok now and they investigate and fix the lift x

Thanks. There was the being stuck with no doors opening and then the sudden plummet that was scary. I was talking to my IRL friend about it a few minutes ago and her DH chimed in with the possibly completely wrong suggestion that, "The cable broke and was taken over by the secondary cable."

She told him to shut up as he wasn't helping.

OP posts:
HelloDaisy · 19/08/2025 18:12

That sounds very scary and worse because you were on your own.

My friend and I got stuck in a glass lift at M&S one Christmas which was quite stressful. She thought it was fine as we had champagne and chocolates in our trolley but I was more concerned about if I needed a wee as everyone would see me as the walls were glass!

EstherGreenwood63 · 19/08/2025 18:14

I have. It was uneventful. Used the intercom. Someone came and opened fhe doors. We were between floors so had to climb up a bit.

jill5676 · 19/08/2025 18:18

This is my worst fear. I avoid lifts like the plague. Even reading the title had me in a cold sweat! You sound like you coped very well, not surprised you're still a bit wobbly though. I'd have been hyperventilating! Do something nice for yourself tonight, you deserve it

WingBingo · 19/08/2025 18:20

I have. On my birthday in Mothercare.

Was not fun as we had to be rescued by the fire brigade

33 years ago now!

Yachties · 19/08/2025 18:20

I’m very claustrophobic and avoid lifts incase I get stuck. I would definitely have panicked. Well done for holding it together, it sounds terrifying.

ByLimeAnt · 19/08/2025 18:26

Yep. Once. On way to job interview. They couldn't get me out so rang the fire brigade who persisted in calling to me from a gap on the next floor "LimeAnt!!! Can you speak to me? Great, keep talking, we are here".

Reader, I was mortified and completely unharmed.

nothingbeats · 19/08/2025 18:26

I would simply pass away 💀

Arlanymor · 19/08/2025 18:28

nothingbeats · 19/08/2025 18:26

I would simply pass away 💀

😂

shellyleppard · 19/08/2025 18:30

My worst nightmare 😭

floppybit · 19/08/2025 18:30

I’m claustrophobic and just reading this is making my heart hammer through my rib cage with fear!!!

Ryanhairbag · 19/08/2025 18:31

I worry about it every time I go in a lift

Topseyt123 · 19/08/2025 18:31

Yes. I've been stuck in a lift before.

It was many years ago (1995 - 1996) on the DLR in London. The rather tacky lifts they had up to the platforms in those days were regulars for grinding to a halt in the wrong position. I avoided them mostly but then I had baby DD1 so needed to use them because of the pram and three or four times we did get stuck. Fortunately they were pretty good at responding to the alarm button and the engineers would come out pretty quickly. The person who answered the call would chat to you too while he was en route so you knew you weren't forgotten.

It isn't a pleasant experience but I've never been stuck for too long.

DiordreBarlow · 19/08/2025 18:32

DH and I got stuck in a lift in a multi storey car park.

It was our wedding anniversary and we were on our way to lunch. Being silly we decided to have a dance in the lift (just us two in there) so we were jigging about when the lift came to a creaking 0halt.

We were there about 90 minutes before some workmen winched us out. Absolutely starving, table reservation long gone and shame faced because we knew our dancing probably caused a lot of inconvenience for the guys who had to come to release us.

PinkZebraStripes · 19/08/2025 18:32

My friend did once at 3am after a fancy dress party. Star Wars characters they were expecting not, to emerge from the lift.

shellyleppard · 19/08/2025 18:33

Years ago when I was a little girl i didn't get out of the lift in time and went down another floor. My parents were on one floor and I remember feeling panicked. I have children myself now and I'm always nervous in lifts.....😭

GhostsInTheWindowsAndWalls · 19/08/2025 18:37

Years ago I got stuck in a lift with a friend and some aspiring musicians for over an hour. They played guitar and sang. 😂 It was a strange but quite fun experience compared to what it could have been.

Original poster
Redheadedstepchild · 19/08/2025 18:40

DiordreBarlow · 19/08/2025 18:32

DH and I got stuck in a lift in a multi storey car park.

It was our wedding anniversary and we were on our way to lunch. Being silly we decided to have a dance in the lift (just us two in there) so we were jigging about when the lift came to a creaking 0halt.

We were there about 90 minutes before some workmen winched us out. Absolutely starving, table reservation long gone and shame faced because we knew our dancing probably caused a lot of inconvenience for the guys who had to come to release us.

Not like this was it:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/QM6Znv1z5JU?si=eanNVubqTLDOM_Cw

OP posts:
MrsMoastyToasty · 19/08/2025 18:50

I haven't been stuck in a lift but about 40 years ago I went on a course in a high rise office block. The course was 12 floors up. On the final day when we were all leaving together 12 of us got in the lift which was the maximum allowed. Little did us women on the course know that the guys had planned to jump at a given signal once the lift had started moving. The lift rocked before moving again. We all screamed.

DiordreBarlow · 19/08/2025 18:52

HA! No, not at all. We did all the usual things a long married couple would do in the situation i.e moaned about the smell of wee and when DH got hangry we had a gentle bicker. We laugh about it now though.

olderbutwiser · 19/08/2025 18:53

I got stuck in the lift when in labour with ds. I barely noticed as everything was a bit of a blur but DH never really recovered.

Sassybooklover · 19/08/2025 18:56

I got stuck in a lift in Spain with my Mum, when I was young. I don't think we were stuck for very long, but it was hot in there and I started to panic. It's the cause of me suffering from claustrophobia now, and if possible I avoid lifts. If I have to use one, then my eyes are glued to the floor level indicators!!

Fupoffyagrasshole · 19/08/2025 18:59

Happened me the other day op in Liverpool
street station ! I had my baby & toddler with me ! It took ages to come up to us and I was about to give up and use the stairs but had buggy and 2 kids so I waited and when it came I got in and it suddenly dropped and then doors opened between floors - my 4 year old thought it was brilliant - my heart was racing, it was 30degrees
and I was sweating I started panic pressing buttons too and the emergency bell and then it suddenly went back up again and I just got out on wrong floor and carried the buggy down the stairs

i felt shaky about it all day 🫠 (4 years ago old still saying she was ants to do it again!!)