An Illinois maintenance worker was trapped for more than six hours inside a 130-foot-tall gas station sign after the boom lift he was using malfunctioned.
The incident occurred Tuesday in Wilmington, Illinois, along Lorenzo Road off Interstate 55. The Wilmington Fire District was dispatched at approximately 1:55 p.m. after receiving a report of a worker stuck at an elevated position.
Officials stated that the worker, identified as AJ Gow, had been in the elevated position for about three hours before rescue personnel arrived. The sign's height of 130 feet exceeded the reach of the local fire district's ladder trucks, which can only extend to 100 feet. Additionally, the sign structure lacked internal stairs or ladders, making a ground-based ascent impossible.
Fire officials coordinated to locate a larger telescopic boom lift in Joliet, approximately 20 miles north. With an escort from the Illinois State Police, the specialized lift was transported to the site.
Firefighters used the brought-in lift to reach Gow and safely bring him to the ground. Gow later expressed his gratitude to the various first responder departments involved, noting that the arrival of the lift with police escorts was a significant moment.
Describing his experience, Gow stated he spent over six hours in a cramped space within the sign's interior. He reported feeling nauseous and dizzy due to the heat and thirst, finding the 16-inch-wide space uncomfortable and not tall enough to stand upright. He also mentioned that the sign swayed in the wind. After his rescue, Gow sought medical treatment for dehydration.
