PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A woman was critically hurt after climbing into the garbage chute of a Portland high-rise condominium and falling 16 stories to the collection area, Portland Fire & Rescue said.
The woman fell at The Civic, a 16-story building at 1926 West Burnside.
Lt. Rich Chatman with PF&R told KOIN 6 News they got the call at noon.
“She apparently got into that garbage chute on the 16th floor and fell all the way down where there was an actual garbage container,” he said. “Whatever was in that garbage container probably softened the fall and the chute is really narrow.”
Chatman said a paramedic told him she may have life-threatening injuries, “perhaps head injuries.” She was rushed to OHSU for treatment.
Police will look into how the woman got into the chute.
Though this kind of call is unusual, Chatman said “it’s not the first time we’ve seen it.”