Toddler rescued in lift drama

By Nicole Williams
FIREFIGHTERS have described the rescue of a young boy stuck in a lift shaft as freaky.
Dandenong CFA acting station officer John Katakouzinos was one of five firefighters called to the incident at a lift in Thomas Street, Dandenong, on Sunday night.
“With something like this, you look twice,” Mr Katakouzinos said.
“It’s a freak kind of incident.”
Wien Jock, 21 months old, was playing in the elevator when it is believed he crawled through a small hole and was left hanging onto a rail between the lift well and the lift, as it travelled between floors.
His father, Bol Jock, heard his cries and was able to reach through the hole to hang onto his young son, who was then dangling six metres about the ground.
Mr Katakouzinos said firefighters initially thought it was the father who needed rescuing.
“We came across a different incident than we expected,” he said.
“I thought the father had his arm stuck but he was hanging onto his son.”
Mr Katakouzinos said they formed a human chain so they could pass the boy down the man-hole to his waiting father.
“We had one between the lift shaft and lift, and we passed the boy between us up to the roof of the lift and passed through a manhole,” he said.
Paramedic Warren Simpson said he was amazed the boy was not injured.
“Once he was freed, we checked him over and thankfully couldn’t find any injuries, pain or discomfort,” Mr Simpson said.
“His stomach and his back were covered in grease and dust from the shaft so it must have been a very small area in there where his body was rubbing against the edge and it’s very fortunate that he didn’t get caught on anything.”