The man, Gerard Fuchs, 34, was in an elevator at 338 Berry St. in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn when it stalled sometime before 12:45 a.m., according to a New York City police report. Fuchs lived in Williamsburg, police said.

As Fuchs attempted to jump out of the elevator and onto an adjacent floor, the hood of his sweatshirt got caught on a piece of the elevator, causing him to fall five stories to the bottom of the elevator shaft, according to the police report.

Fuchs was taken to Bellevue Hospital Center, where he was pronounced dead. Police said another person managed to escape from the elevator.

Police do not suspect any criminality.

The elevator has an active violation from April, according to Department of Buildings records and had seven violations between 2001 and 2008, according to records. Those violations were eventually dismissed.

Police said an investigation is ongoing.

Submitted on 11/08/2009

Submitted by: Walter
Reference: Newsday, 11/8/09

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Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I just heard this being discussed on the radio and I'm not surprised at all to see it submitted here. It sounds to me like this guy watched one too many "Die Hard" style action movies and decided that climbing out of the stalled elevator and climbing/jumping through the elevator shaft was a perfectly reasonable thing to do. After all, if movie stars like Bruce Willis can do it then why not him? Thanks, Walter!

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
What Bruce said.

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