MORRISTOWN, N.J. -- Two construction workers in a cherry-picker above a church in New Jersey were rescued after being trapped 8 stories in the air for several hours.
The men were conducting maintenance work on the steeple of the United Methodist Church when their bucket inexplicably tilted and hit the steeple, knocking out power to the lift.
In the hours that followed, about 100 people gathered to watch the rescue effort that would be launched. A fire department ladder company sent up a crew but came up short of reaching the trapped duo. A second ladder company then tried and got further but was also short.
Response teams then considered plans for a helicopter rescue when a massive crane was brought in. As the helicopter circled, two firefighters were lifted up in a "super bucket" towards the steeple.
This time it was high enough, the two construction workers tied off and were lowered to safety.
The men were briefly checked out in an ambulance, then rushed away from news crews. One person later said they would not comment for fear of liability. Apparently, even happy endings have to be approved by the lawyers.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
