432
Aftermath of a B-25 Bomber flying into the Empire State Building, 1945 (i.redd.it)
submitted 2 months ago by ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net to c/historyporn@lemmy.world
75 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Another angle:

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] Wahots@pawb.social 85 points 2 months ago

Betty had a shit fucking day.

Elevator operator Betty Lou Oliver was thrown from her elevator car on the 80th floor and suffered severe burns. First aid workers placed her on another elevator car to transport her to the ground floor, but the cables supporting that elevator had been damaged in the incident, and it fell 75 stories, ending up in the basement.[13] Oliver survived the fall due to the softening cushion of air created by the falling elevator car within this elevator shaft; however, she had suffered a broken pelvis, back and neck when rescuers found her amongst the rubble.[14] This remains the world record for the longest survived elevator fall.

[-] oatscoop@midwest.social 20 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Especially bad when you consider the elevator shouldn't have fallen in the first place.

Elisha Otis invented his automatic elevator brakes in 1853 -- designed to instantly stop cars from falling if the cables snap ... and the Empire State Building used Otis safety elevators.

Given how dead simple and reliable the safety mechanism is something must have gone horrible wrong.

[-] Wahots@pawb.social 4 points 2 months ago

A bit more on Betty and the incident:

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2023/10/how-an-elevator-attendant-survived-a-1-000-ft-fall-down-the-empire-state-building-759670

Tldr; she lived till 74 and had a family and children, so it looks like it all worked out after nearly dying two or three times from the crash/burn/elevator crash.

[-] pineapplelover@lemm.ee 17 points 2 months ago

That's like one of my worst fears

[-] Entropywins@lemmy.world 13 points 2 months ago

Being thrown from an elevator or elevator falling 75 stories or airplane hitting the building?

[-] Jerb322@lemmy.world 11 points 2 months ago

Yes

[-] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 4 points 2 months ago

Record setting go-getter

this post was submitted on 21 Oct 2024
432 points (98.6% liked)

HistoryPorn

4979 readers
132 users here now

If you would like to become a mod in this community, kindly PM the mod.

Relive the Past in Jaw-Dropping Detail!

HistoryPorn is for photographs (or, if it can be found, film) of the past, recent or distant! Give us a little snapshot of history!

Rules

  1. Be respectful and inclusive.
  2. No harassment, hate speech, or trolling.
  3. Engage in constructive discussions.
  4. Share relevant content.
  5. Follow guidelines and moderators' instructions.
  6. Use appropriate language and tone.
  7. Report violations.
  8. Foster a continuous learning environment.
  9. No genocide or atrocity denialism.

Pictures of old artifacts and museum pieces should go to History Artifacts

Illustrations and paintings should go to History Drawings

Related Communities:

Military Porn

Forgotten Weapons

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
PugJesus@lemmy.world
PugJesus@kbin.social