A Cobourg youth spent Thursday afternoon in a elevator – and not by his choice.
Thirteen-year-old James O’Grady Jr. was asked to take the garbage down from the fourth floor where his grandfather was visiting on Thursday, March 16, 2023.
But after only a few seconds after pushing the ground floor button, the elevator suddenly stopped at Manor Towers apartments on Munroe Street in Cobourg.
It would be nearly two hours before O’Grady would be freed from the elevator.
Cobourg Fire Department were dispatched shortly before 3 p.m. to a youth stuck in a elevator.
Arriving on scene, firefighters made sure the elevator was secure and that O’Grady was fine and not injured.
If the person isn’t injured, the protocol is to call a elevator technician. When they arrive, they can make sure everything is completely safe and secure before the person is removed.
The nearest technician was in Toronto so as long as O’Grady was fine, everyone would wait.
Arriving shortly before 5 p.m. it only took a few minutes before the elevator door was open and O’Grady hopped out and was hugged by his grandfather.
With the garbage still not delivered, his grandfather asked him (jokingly) if he was going to take the garbage out.
O’Grady recounted what happened to Today’s Northumberland when he got stuck.
He pushed the button to the ground floor, “and all of a sudden it stopped.”
Wondering what had happened, he pressed the button again and it still didn’t work so he pushed the “Help” button for assistance.
Being stuck in a elevator alone did freak O’Grady out a bit, but as the people started to come and speak to him, he knew everything would be ok.
Because it was supposed to be a short trip taking the garbage out, the one thing he didn’t take with him was his cell phone.
When Cobourg firefighters arrived they slipped it into the elevator to keep O’Grady’s mind occupied while everyone waited for the technician.
O’Grady said with a smile, the lesson he learned is to always carry your cell phone with you, no matter what adults say.
“Next time I know to always have it on me,” he said with a smile to his grandfather.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
