Vilvoorde (The Brussels Morning newspaper): A cleaning staff member fell 12 meters into an elevator shaft at Living Tomorrow after backing in with a cart unaware the elevator wasn’t level. She sustained serious injuries but is now safe after being hospitalized.
An accident happened on 28th August around 2:30 PM at the new building of Living Tomorrow, a company that focuses on new solutions and technologies. The incident took place on Indringingsweg, where the company’s modern facilities are located. Frank Belien, the founder of Living Tomorrow,shared his confusion and worry about the accident. He said, “The elevator is still brand new and was still inspected. The only comments were about some dust on the edges.” He stressed the importance of a full investigation to find out how this incident happened.
What led to the elevator accident at Living Tomorrow in Vilvoorde?
Frank Beliën, the founder of Living Tomorrow, shared more information about the accident involving a cleaning staff member. He explained that the staff member’s wife was backing into the elevator with a cart full of cleaning supplies when the accident happened. She didn’t realize that the elevator wasn’t at the same level as the floor. As she stepped in backwards with the cart she fell into the open shaft, dropping from the third floor down to the basement, which is about 12 meters (around 39 feet). The cart, filled with cleaning products also fell with her and it might have landed on her after the fall. The incident shocked everyone and Beliën stressed the need to investigate how such a tragic event could happen in a brand-new building with equipment that was recently inspected.
“The woman got first aid from one of our staff while waiting for help. She was awake and could talk a little.” A special rescue team from the fire department was called but didn’t need to come in the end. The woman was taken to the hospital with serious injuries and was put in an artificial coma. But there’s good news now. “AurĂ©lie is safe now, as we have been told,” said Frank BeliĂ«n from Living Tomorrow.
