Woman Stuck in Trash Chute Rescued by Hackensack, NJ, Firefighters

Hackensack firefighters used a tools and saws to gain access to the patient trapped in trash.

Anthony G. Attrino | NJ.com

nj.com

(TNS)

A woman was hospitalized Sunday after she fell at least 10 floors down a garbage chute in a high-rise apartment building in Hackensack, authorities said.

The woman entered the 14th floor trash chute of the luxury apartment building in the 100 block of Main Street in Hackensack around 1 p.m., according to city officials.

Moments later, 911 operators received a call that the woman had “fallen to an unknown location inside the chute,” the Hackensack Fire Department said in a statement.

Firefighters said they initially could not locate the woman.

After a search, she was found stuck inside the chute, along with backed-up trash, between the third and fourth floors.

Rescuers used saws and other tools to remove panels from the chute and firefighters pulled out trash to get to the woman.

She was taken out of the chute, feet first, around 30 minutes after firefighters were first called to the scene, city officials said.

The woman was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center for treatment of unknown injuries.

A Hackensack firefighter was also taken to the hospital with an arm injury, officials said.

©2026 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit nj.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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