Four people were injured when a lift at Erythros Stavros hospital in Athens fell, after one of its cables snapped. The lift fell through two floors and landed at the second basement.
The incident took place at noon on Thursday in one of the big elevators of the hospital that is used also for the transfer of patients to and from surgery rooms.
At the time of the incident inside the lift were an elderly man discharged from the hospital after operation, his accompanying person and two paramedics from a private ambulance assigned to bring him home.
Injured were the two paramedics with fractures in the legs and the ribs. The elderly patient escaped any injury as he was sitting on a transport chair. However, both the patient and his escort suffered minor lesions.
According to eyewitnesses, the lift fell with a loud noise and had doctors, personnel and visitors rushing to see what had happened.
A doctor whose office was nearby told Mega TV Live News that he rushed to the basement and heard that the people inside were in panic as they could not open the door. “I left and quickly returned with a surgery tool with which I managed to open the door and evacuate the people,” he stressed.
The hospital issued a statement saying that the particular lift was maintained on December 2 and 19, 2024, and was about to show the statement and confirmation of the private company assigned with the maintenance of the hospital lifts.
The four people have undergone thorough examinations and tests and remain in the hospital that has launched an investigation into the incident.
Also authorities in charged have been called to investigate.
Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis posted on social media: “We are sorry for the inconvenience, all security procedures are being met.”
According to some media reports, there were complaints in November that some of the hospital elevators did not work.
