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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you've ever been stuck in a lift?

80 replies

BlueJuniper94 · 03/12/2025 18:49

I'm terrified of lifts. I'm scared of getting stuck in one and at best being stuck, bored, needing the bathroom while awaiting rescue and inconvenienced. At worst, plummeting to my death or having to climb through a tiny gap and being chopped in half. I think this is probably crazy. BUT aibu to ask if you've ever had a lift incident? They're quite safe and nothing ever really happens right?

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 03/12/2025 19:07

Lifts in China are perhaps less well maintained than lifts in the UK you would assume. We have a lot of laws about safety standards. Even the lifts in Germany where I live feel dodgy compared with lifts in the UK - the one in our tower block had heavy push doors you had to manually open. I am lazy though so used it a fair bit.

Apparently they have a load of safety features including failsafe after failsafe to prevent them plummeting.

Comedycook · 03/12/2025 19:07

Im terrified as well of this. I always take the stairs if I can

ComtesseDeSpair · 03/12/2025 19:07

If it eases your mind, the odds of being stuck in a lift are approximately 1 in every 100,000 journeys, so it’s relatively rare. In terms of plummeting to your death, it’s virtually impossible nowadays, short of an incident involving major sudden building damage which impacts the shaft: modern lifts have complex weighted braking systems and multiple cables to prevent it from happening. I’ve sometimes felt uneasy using cranky high-rise lifts in poorly maintained buildings in developing countries, but have never been stuck in a lift or experienced mechanical failure anywhere.

Spudlover · 03/12/2025 19:09

Yes twice. Once at work in a large glass lift for about 20 minutes which was fine, just a bit boring.

The second time was an overfull, tiny lift in a hot country. We were stuck for over an hour trying to call the engineer who spoke no English! That wasn’t fun.

CheeseDreamsTonight · 03/12/2025 19:11

I once got stuck in a glass lift 4 inches off the floor in a gym reception area. It was like being a museum exhibit. Mortifying.

Goditsmemargaret · 03/12/2025 19:11

As a child with my siblings on holiday. We had wandered off as we were prone to do in the 1980s even in a strange city.

There was another couple in there and they were so nice to us. I remember sitting on the floor singing songs and having the time of my life.

In the meantime our parents noticed at some point we weren't there and a search began. There were six lifts in the hotel and they didn't realise initially that one wasn't moving.

I was totally surprised when I heard my dad's voice calling us then the doors pulled open to a sea of worried looking adults to all of us on the floor having a sing song.

User564523412 · 03/12/2025 19:19

Yes, both myself and DH on separate occasions. If the emergency call button is working then it only takes about 20-30 mins for them to come rescue you. DH had to do this once.

I had the misfortune of getting stuck during a power cut where the button didn't work but thankfully I had signal on my phone so I called the building management to rant at them. The lift started moving by itself after 20mins and I was able to get out.

Based on this, I try to avoid taking any lifts which don't have phone signal, or if you have the option of taking a lift that's closer to the outside of a building or with a glass front, then always choose that one. And always have your phone on you, even if it's just taking the trash out or checking the mail.

enteratyourperil · 03/12/2025 19:20

Yes for about 20mins on my own.

Pressed the buzzer thing as someone came and had tonorise open the doors. Wasn't too scary as not stuck with other people.

Asosbabe · 03/12/2025 19:23

Not been stuck but got in Sainsbury's lift having bought a big thing of loo rolls and a mop and bucket and the general consensus from other people in the lift was that they were glad I was in there

User564523412 · 03/12/2025 19:25

ComtesseDeSpair · 03/12/2025 19:07

If it eases your mind, the odds of being stuck in a lift are approximately 1 in every 100,000 journeys, so it’s relatively rare. In terms of plummeting to your death, it’s virtually impossible nowadays, short of an incident involving major sudden building damage which impacts the shaft: modern lifts have complex weighted braking systems and multiple cables to prevent it from happening. I’ve sometimes felt uneasy using cranky high-rise lifts in poorly maintained buildings in developing countries, but have never been stuck in a lift or experienced mechanical failure anywhere.

Edited

It depends on how often you take them and what sort of system. The ones that have added security like chips or cards allowing entry to certain floors tend to malfunction far more often. Obviously they won't plummet or anything but a minor electrical glitch can result in the doors not opening. Our building Whatsapp group has someone getting stuck in a lift every few months.

Reduxrabbit · 03/12/2025 19:25

Yes, some years ago with a labour politician and his entourage on a very hot day….

herbalteabag · 03/12/2025 19:25

Yes I have been stuck in a lift at least twice, once when I was about 10 and with my parents which I found more exciting than scary, and once about 15 years ago. Had to push the button to speak to someone and was quickly rescued, it wasn't worrying.

IdaGlossop · 03/12/2025 19:28

Once. A Friday evening. Financial services HQ in the City. The lift stopped between floors. I had visions of remaining there for the whole weekend. Just as I pressed the alarm button, the lift juddered and started to go down. It stopped. The doors opened. I stepped out - and landed hard on the carpet in reception. The lift had stopped between floors. In my eagerness to get out, I hadn't noticed.

taxguru · 03/12/2025 19:32

We were in a lift in our hotel in Eilat when there were aftershocks from an earthquake. The lift stopped and was violently shaking in the shaft. Very frightening and we were stuck in it for an hour or so until the mechanism was reset. It really affected us and we couldn't use lifts nor even go into small enclosed spaces like public toilet cubicles for a long time. Even now, many years later, my heart skips beats when I go into public toilet cubicles.

Bookloveruk · 03/12/2025 19:38

Several times when I was young. Wasn’t for long and most time fire brigade opened doors and we went out. Still okay going in lifts

Ruggerchick · 03/12/2025 19:58

My sister and I got stuck in one when we were about 10/11 for what seemed like ages but probably wasn’t. It was our own stupid fault as we were mucking about. Been in numerous lifts since and it’s never happened again,

Lostxmasfairy · 03/12/2025 20:07

Yes when I was little the lifts in my grandma's block of flats was always breaking down she lived on the 15th floor. Got stuck in them to many times to count.
Now has an adult I avoid lifts. I'd rather walk up 20 flights of stairs than take a lift.

Oldraver · 03/12/2025 20:09

My OH spent 10 years as a lift engineer and only ever had to attend two stuck lifts

I did ask if they were disappointed they were rescued by a ,9 stone little man rather than a hunky firefighter (a lot of fire services don't attend anymore,)

SwirlyShirly · 03/12/2025 20:20

Twice! Once at work, another time at Birmingham airport. Both times less than an hour.

SunMoonandChocolate · 03/12/2025 20:30

I got stuck in a lift with my DH one Christmas Eve. We had just done our Christmas food shop, and thank goodness there was nothing frozen in the trolley. It was quite a large lift, but with 4 other people complete with trolleys full of Christmas food it still felt pretty crowded. The engineer eventually opened the doors for us 2 hours later, and when he saw us all with our trolleys of food, felt obliged to say with a big cheesy grin on his face 'Well at least you wouldn't have starved if I'd left you there over Christmas'.

JackGrealishsCalves · 03/12/2025 20:32

Yes, many years ago at work doing overtime on a Saturday afternoon, stuck with one other lady.
Firstly took ages due to being a weekend, think we were stuck for a couple of hours.
Secondly it made me realise I have a form of claustrophobia, not small spaces per se but I could feel the panic rise in my chest, until we managed to open the doors to get some air in, until then I genuinely thought I would suffocate.
I don't think you can plummet down, there are safety blocks to stop that happening (except in movies!)

Runlikesomeoneleftgateopen · 03/12/2025 20:40

Yes, many years ago workmen switched off the power not knowing lift was in use.
it was a very small lift, there was myself, a colleague and a delivery man with piles of cardboard boxs. We were stuck in between floors for ages, emergency phone didn't work. Our colleagues upstairs in the office couldn't understand why my car and other ladies car in car park yet no sign of us.
After what seemed like ages fire men dragged the doors of the lift open and we all had to climb out.
I was not happy and took rest of day off due to stress.

Purplecatshopaholic · 03/12/2025 20:58

Once, in the lift at my office. I was on my own. It was between floors but there was a glass window so I could see out, thank god, or I might have really freaked out, was let out after less than an hour, but it felt longer. I didn’t take the lift again for ages, but that was over 10 years ago now and I do occasionally risk it, if I have to go up a long way.

Mollydoggerson · 03/12/2025 21:05

Yes, I ve been trapped in a lift with 2 other people. There is an emergency number to call. We called it, they logged it and told us to call again if we needed too.

I genuinely got anxious, and also thought I needed the bathroom. (nerves). After about 5 mins I called again and told them I was anxious and needed to get out fast. I genuinely was anxious, I think the other 2 people thought I was putting it on. After another minute or so, the lift started again, we got to the ground floor and that was it. All over in 6 or 7 minutes. No real drama.

jenniefromtheblock2 · 03/12/2025 21:12

The worst thing about having a baby for me was the amount of lifts I had to go in with the pram. I've never been stuck in a lift though, thankfully.