Rescuers pulled an 89-year-old woman to safety through a 21st-floor window after she was stranded outside a high-rise in Beijing. The rescue team pulled her from within the building through a window, according to The Sun.
The woman, who lives alone on the 27th floor, had accidentally locked herself inside her bedroom with her phone left in the living room. Unable to call for help and unable to open the door, she decided to climb outside through her bedroom window and attempt to descend the exterior of the building. She used the metal grilles and railings around outdoor air conditioning units as handholds. She intended to make her way down the façade to the ground floor to regain access and contact the outside world.
A white-haired woman hanging from the 27th-floor
A resident reported seeing a white-haired woman hanging from the 27th-floor balcony. On lower floors, cleaners and security guards heard faint noises before noticing her gripping the exterior wall. She was seen around the 26th floor clinging to the metal grilles installed around air conditioning units.
Firefighters urged the woman to remain in place, but she continued moving down the building’s exterior. She descended from the 27th floor to the 21st. She stopped roughly 50 meters above the ground when she became too exhausted to continue. At that point, she could no longer move on her own and awaited assistance while still holding onto the building’s exterior fixtures.
Taking a rest on an air conditioner
The rescue team secured her with a safety rope through a window on the 21st floor to prevent a fall. To clear a path for her retrieval, they removed part of the balcony railing. She was allowed to rest while supported on an external air conditioner stand for about 20 minutes. Once stabilized, she was carefully pulled inside through the window.
Emergency personnel and onlookers reported that she appeared shocked and tired after the ordeal but did not suffer significant injuries.