Workers Seen Dangling From Palmetto Bay Office Building

PALMETTO BAY, FL — Two workmen could be seen on live television dangling outside a Palmetto Bay office building on Tuesday morning as first responders attempted to reach them. The workers were being held by safety ropes after what appeared to be a failure of their platform lift. A Miami-Dade firefighter was lowered down the side of the building from the roof to bring the workers to safety.

Erika Benitez of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue told Patch that the incident took place shortly after 9 a.m. outside the Palmetto Bay Village Center at 18001 Old Cutler Road.

"When crews arrived, they observed two workers dangling from their safety harnesses after the scaffolding they were standing on collapsed from under them," said Benitez, who added that the agency's technical rescue team managed to stabilize the two workers as well as the scaffolding that failed.

"Once secured, [Firefighter] Maggie Castro, was lowered down from the roof to the first worker, where she was able to lower the person to safety," according to Benitez. "The second worker was also lowered by [Firefighter] Castro with the assistance and guidance of the rest of the TRT."

One of the men was pulled to safety shortly before 10 a.m. The second man was rescued a short time later. The workers were checked for injuries, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

Benitez said that the Technical Rescue Team members who responded to Tuesday's call were part of the Blackhearts Extrication Team, which has participated in competitions around the world.

Technical Rescue Team members are certified emergency medical response firefighters who are specially trained in the treatment and removal of victims trapped in complex or confined spaces such as collapsed structures and vehicles with extreme collision damage.

"All MDFR frontline units carry basic TRT equipment such as the Jaws of Life and other hydraulic rescue tools, but several units strategically located throughout Miami-Dade are specially designated TRT units that are outfitted with highly specialized technical rescue equipment and staffed with crew members certified in technical rescue response," according to Benitez.

Watch dramatic rescue below:

Photos and video courtesy Miami-Dade Fire Rescue