An 18-year-old individual sustained critical injuries after plunging 20 stories while attempting to climb an abandoned elevator shaft.
The incident occurred on Monday, August 3, in Minneapolis, where the teenager was part of a group trespassing at the decommissioned Checkerboard Grain Elevator around 8:30 p.m. local time. According to the Minneapolis Police Department, the teen fell a significant distance onto a platform below.
After witnessing the fall, the teenager’s friends contacted the police, believing the individual had not survived. Authorities, along with firefighters, arrived at the scene and utilized a ladder truck to administer emergency medical treatment to the injured teen.
The unidentified boy was rushed to Hennepin Healthcare with life-threatening injuries. As of now, there have been no updates on the individual’s condition.
Minneapolis Police Sgt. Garrett Parten described the incident as “miraculous,” considering the teenager’s survival after hanging from a beam before the fall. Parten emphasized the risks of engaging in illegal and perilous activities in search of excitement.
Local residents near the site have expressed concerns about frequent trespassers at the abandoned building, citing dangerous behaviors like the “dead arm hang,” where individuals use one arm to dangle from a pole connected to a structure.
Following the tragic event, Checkerboard LLC, the property owner, extended sympathy to the injured youth and family, pledging full cooperation with the ongoing investigation into the incident.
