Local

Scaffolding dangles over downtown Jacksonville after JFRD rescues two men

Original story:

A piece of scaffolding is dangling from the side of the BB&T building in downtown Jacksonville.

Almost five hours after an electric failure, firefighters are still on the scene and Forsythe Street is still closed.

For about 30 minutes, two men were dangling from the 17th floor of the BB&T building after an electrical failure on their scaffolding.

MORE: JFRD rescues workers dangling from downtown building

“It kept coming down on one end and then it just stayed there, just stuck in that position,” witness Robert Johnson said.

Johnson was walking along the sidewalk when he heard cries for help.

“I heard a lot of yelling and screaming from way up top,” Johnson said.

The workers were waterproofing the building, when firefighters believe, the electrical crank failed.

“I saw the window cleaners’ scaffolding dangling from one side and one of the workers was hanging from his harness,” Johnson said.

Moments after the men were left dangling, Johnson said, employees from the building ran outside.

“Everyone was telling us to get back because I was right up at the bank,” Johnson said.

People were watching from below, helpless, and Johnson said they were all just hoping the men would be rescued quickly.

“Me and the other people there just said, 'Hold on' and 'Hope that the man doesn’t fall,'” Johnson said.

More than two dozen firefighters were at the scene working to rescue the men and there were cheers from the crowd below as the workers were pulled to the top of the building safely.

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department chained off the scaffolding, but are waiting for another company to come in and make improvements to the method of chaining.

The road will be closed  until that happens.