Worker Rescued After Dangling From Gramercy High-Rise Updated December 12, 2011 4:46pm

A worker dangled from scaffolding eight stories above the ground on Monday, Dec. 12, 2011. (Lisa Rodriguez)

By Sonja Sharp and Carla Zanoni

DNAinfo Staff

GRAMERCY — Firefighters rescued a worker who was dangling from scaffold eight stories above Second Avenue Monday afternoon, according to the FDNY.

For 30 minutes, the worker was suspended by a canvas and leather rope attached to a latch on his safety harness, fire officials said.

A co-worker attempted to rescue the man before the Fire Department arrived on the scene at 400 Second Ave. just after 1:00 p.m., witnesses said. 

A small crowd gathered beneath the 27-story building to watch as fire officials lifted the man to safety. Traffic was termporarily blocked along Second Avenue, between 23rd and 24th streets as the man was rescued.

“He was trying to pull himself back up,” said witness Lisa Rodriguez, 40, from Brooklyn. “After a while he was just hanging there.” 

A worker dangled from his safety harness after slipping from scaffolding eight stories in the air at 400 Second Avenue on Monday, Dec. 12, 2011. (Lisa Rodriguez)

The man suffered only minor injuries and refused medical attention, FDNY officials said. 

The FDNY said it was not immediately clear what had caused the accident. 

Rockledge Scaffolding, the company responsible for pacing the scaffolding around the building, did not immediately respond to calls for comment. 

A stop work order was issued at the site by the Department of Buildings due to the accident, according to the agency’s website. 

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