Elevator Antics: An Old-Time Driver’s Oops Moment
Picture this: a 63‑year‑old cabbie, Mr. Chen Tianfu, strolling down Sengkang East Way, ready to hop into a lift. He notices a slight snag—a 15‑centimetre gap between the lobby pavement and the lift floor. He missteps, but the railings catch him. Good! That’s one thing saved. Then, the next day, the lift throws a curveball.
The Rise (and Fall)
- Step One: Mr. Chen boards the lift on the 7th floor after the doors close.
- Step Two: In a heartbeat (less than a second), the lift rockets down to somewhere around the 4th or 5th floor—no warning, no option to brace.
- Step Three: Balance lost. Mr. Chen hits the floor.
- Step Four: The lift launches backwards twice, sending him somersaulting again.
- Step Five: After a frantic bumpy ride, the lift calms down and finally arrives at its destination.
What’s the Twinge?
After the chaos, a dreadful right shoulder pain and a swollen ankle creep into his right side. Despite the “Sinking Earth” feeling, he chose to refuse medical aid and instead head for home to recover.
Possible Causes
- Door Drama: The lift doors recently went through a nearly two‑week maintenance spree; doors still struggling to close.
- Past Performance: 1/14 was the first day it ran post‑repair. Mr. Chen had been hoping for a smooth ride that didn’t come.
- Worry Factor: He says this mishap feels “worse than before.”
Spokespeople.
A curious passerby noticed something’s off and wanted to dial an ambulance—though Mr. Chen had the-ish-might-have-something-terrible in mind, he opted for a home recuperation plan. He also expressed that these lift glitches had become an everyday story.
Takeaway: Next time you see a lift that’s feeling a bit intoxicated, you might want to double‑check for misalignments and, above all, keep holding onto those railings—no pun intended.
