By: Jeff Sommes
A woman was hospitalized Sunday afternoon after falling at least 10 floors down a trash chute inside a luxury high-rise apartment building in Hackensack, authorities said.
The incident occurred around 1 p.m. at a residential tower located in the 100 block of Main Street.
According to city officials, the woman entered a trash chute on the building’s 14th floor before falling to an unknown location inside the structure.
Moments later, emergency dispatchers received a 911 call reporting that the woman had fallen inside the chute.
Firefighters responding to the scene initially were unable to locate her.
After conducting a search, crews discovered the woman trapped between the third and fourth floors, where she had become lodged among a buildup of trash inside the chute.
Rescuers used saws and specialized tools to remove chute panels while firefighters worked to clear debris in an effort to reach the victim.
Approximately 30 minutes after emergency crews arrived, the woman was safely removed from the chute feet first.
She was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center for treatment. The extent of her injuries was not immediately released.
Authorities have not disclosed how or why the woman entered the trash chute. The incident remains under investigation.