Missing Deliveryman Found Stuck In Elevator For 4 Days

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ThePresence

ThePresence

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
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Text
NEW YORK -- Ming Kuang Chen was written off after vanishing last Friday night while making a delivery for Happy Dragon restaurant at a high-rise apartment building in the Bronx.

As police conducted a massive search and days passed, speculation grew that the 35-year-old Chen was the victim of armed bandits or some other urban horror.

But more than three days later, the disappearing deliveryman emerged with a mean thirst and a tale of survival: he had been stuck by himself in an elevator the whole time, without food or water. He was pulled out at about 5 a.m. Tuesday by firefighters responding to an emergency call at the high-rise.

"Thanks for everyone caring about me," Chen said afterward in an interview with ETTV, a Taiwan-based news network. "I'm fine now."

Chen -- an illegal immigrant from the Fujian Province in southeastern China who speaks mostly Mandarin -- apparently tried to tell rescuers how long he had been trapped by circling his watch dial with his finger numerous times, said Charlie Markey, a Fire Department spokesman.

The deliveryman was given water at the scene before being taken to Montefiore Medical Center. He was treated for minor dehydration, but "that was all. ... He was in very good condition," said hospital spokesman Steve Osborne.

On Tuesday, authorities -- who conducted a door-to-door canvass of the apartment complex over the weekend -- were questioning why police officers and the building's private security force found no sign of Chen, who claimed he had repeatedly cried out and pushed an alarm button in the elevator.

"I tried to knock (down) the door and kept screaming for help, but no response," Chen said in the television interview. "During the time I was stuck in the elevator, I just kept sleeping because I don't know what else to do."

Chen was last seen about 8:30 p.m. Friday after making three deliveries at the same apartment complex in the Bedford Park neighborhood. He later told police through a translator that he had entered an elevator on the 32nd floor of a 38-story building when it plunged down and became stuck between the third and fourth floors.

An investigation on Tuesday determined that the security camera and alarm system in the elevator were working. But security officers told police they never heard nor saw Chen until they received his emergency call early Tuesday.

Even maintenance workers who were called to check out the disabled elevator on Monday missed Chen, police said.

Those questions aside, Mayor Michael Bloomberg marveled at Chen's good luck.

"If they were there and they searched and they didn't find him, thank God it turned out that he's OK," the mayor said. "I think we should all be thankful that the man's alive."
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brigden

brigden

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 2002
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If he was delivering for Happy Dragon restaurant, I'm going to go out on a limb and assume he wasn't without food.
 
S

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Originally posted by: brigden
If he was delivering for Happy Dragon restaurant, I'm going to go out on a limb and assume he wasn't without food.
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forget about food, water is what is important.
 
ThePresence

ThePresence

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
27,727
16
81
Originally posted by: brigden
If he was delivering for Happy Dragon restaurant, I'm going to go out on a limb and assume he wasn't without food.
Click to expand...

But more than three days later, the disappearing deliveryman emerged with a mean thirst and a tale of survival: he had been stuck by himself in an elevator the whole time, without food or water. He was pulled out at about 5 a.m. Tuesday by firefighters responding to an emergency call at the high-rise.

Chen was last seen about 8:30 p.m. Friday after making three deliveries at the same apartment complex in the Bedford Park neighborhood. He later told police through a translator that he had entered an elevator on the 32nd floor of a 38-story building when it plunged down and became stuck between the third and fourth floors.
 
M

myusername

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2003
5,046
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Well he's chinese .. he wasn't tall enough to have reached the ceiling to climb out of the escape hatch that they don't actually have in real elevators anyway :D
 
brigden

brigden

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 2002
8,702
2
81
Originally posted by: ThePresence
Originally posted by: brigden
If he was delivering for Happy Dragon restaurant, I'm going to go out on a limb and assume he wasn't without food.
Click to expand...

But more than three days later, the disappearing deliveryman emerged with a mean thirst and a tale of survival: he had been stuck by himself in an elevator the whole time, without food or water. He was pulled out at about 5 a.m. Tuesday by firefighters responding to an emergency call at the high-rise.

Chen was last seen about 8:30 p.m. Friday after making three deliveries at the same apartment complex in the Bedford Park neighborhood. He later told police through a translator that he had entered an elevator on the 32nd floor of a 38-story building when it plunged down and became stuck between the third and fourth floors.
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My Islamabad.
 
B

Bootprint

Diamond Member
Jan 11, 2002
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Probably better that he didn't have food for a delivery, the damn MSG would've made him really thirsty and he'd be hungry 30 minutes later.
 
Zebo

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
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NYC? 4 days? Seems like at least one person would have needer a lift there over that period.
 
her209

her209

No Lifer
Oct 11, 2000
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Why aren't people screaming for deportation of this illegal immigrant?
 
ThePresence

ThePresence

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
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Originally posted by: cerebusPu
i find it funyn how the repairment didnt see him. how the heck can that happen?
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Because the repairman does not need to go into the actual elevator. He probably just went into the control room. EIther that or this dude is REALLY small.
 
B

Brutuskend

Lifer
Apr 2, 2001
26,558
4
0
Originally posted by: brigden
If he was delivering for Happy Dragon restaurant, I'm going to go out on a limb and assume he wasn't without food.
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I am assuming he had already made the delivery and was on his way out when it happend.

Bad timing, that!
 
T

thirdlegstump

Banned
Feb 12, 2001
8,713
0
0
Originally posted by: ThePresence
Originally posted by: Zebo
NYC? 4 days? Seems like at least one person would have needer a lift there over that period.
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It was out of order.
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Yep. There was even a sign that said: "Elevator out of order due to it being stuck between the 3rd and 4th floor with someone screaming and kicking inside."
 
C

cliftonite

Diamond Member
Jul 15, 2001
6,900
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Originally posted by: deathkoba
Originally posted by: ThePresence
Originally posted by: Zebo
NYC? 4 days? Seems like at least one person would have needer a lift there over that period.
Click to expand...

It was out of order.
Click to expand...

Yep. There was even a sign that said: "Elevator out of order due to it being stuck between the 3rd and 4th floor with someone screaming and kicking inside."
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haha
 
ThePresence

ThePresence

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
27,727
16
81
Originally posted by: deathkoba
Originally posted by: ThePresence
Originally posted by: Zebo
NYC? 4 days? Seems like at least one person would have needer a lift there over that period.
Click to expand...

It was out of order.
Click to expand...

Yep. There was even a sign that said: "Elevator out of order due to it being stuck between the 3rd and 4th floor with someone screaming and kicking inside."
Click to expand...

LOL :laugh:
 
rh71

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
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Yes he's illegal but he's still a hardworking man, with a wife and kid back in China he's working to support. When I first heard of this story and that he was missing, I instantly felt for the family. Glad to hear he's ok. And someone did a real good job of checking on the elevator(s)... :roll:
 
Y

Yax

Platinum Member
Feb 11, 2003
2,866
0
0
Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
And yet another illegal alien will get rich.
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I doubt he'll sue. I think he'd be too afraid to press charges.
 
AnitaPeterson

AnitaPeterson

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2001
6,021
547
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Add to this the fact that the guy doesn't speak any English (not even Engrish), so whatever cries of help he uttered, were probably mistaken for shtuppin' cats, kids playing and screaming nonsense, or a hobo/addict having a seizure...
 
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