Charedi Teenager Rescued From 36-Story Crane Counterweight In Jerusalem

 

 A preliminary investigation shows the 15-year-old climbed a crane on top of a 44-story building around midnight. 

He slipped near the top, grabbed a cable and slid down until he was stuck on the counterweight,  where he remained trapped for hours.

This morning a passerby spotted him and alerted police and rescue teams.

News report!

Emergency responders succeeded in executing a complex high-rise rescue operation early Monday morning, saving a 15-year-old charedi teenager who was trapped on a crane atop a 44-story building in Jerusalem. The incident occurred at the same structure near the central bus station where another teen tragically fell during last month’s ‘Million Person Rally’ protest.

Fire and rescue teams deployed advanced rope systems to navigate the challenging access and angles of the crane. They successfully reached the teen, secured him with harnesses, and lowered him safely to the ground. The boy was unharmed and handed over to medical and police personnel for evaluation. He had apparently climbed up during the night to the top of the crane, slipped down the rope and landed on top of the crane’s counterweight, where he apparently called for help for hours.

Deputy Jerusalem District Commander, Sub-Fire Chief Ayal Cohen, who oversaw the rescue operation from the command post, highlighted the team’s preparedness: “This morning demonstrated the high operational readiness of our special rescues unit. Just yesterday, we conducted a complex drill simulating a crane rescue, and today, the firefighters applied those skills in real time. Training and professionalism ensured a safe resolution.”

MDA (Magen David Adom) reported receiving the alert at 07:08 and dispatched medics and paramedics to provide on-site medical support during the firefighters’ efforts.

The rescue underscores ongoing safety concerns at high-rise construction sites in the city, with authorities now investigating how the teen had accessed the crane.

With the dramatic rescue now complete, Fire and Rescue officials emphasized, “It does not appear to be a suicide attempt; the teenager called himself and requested assistance. It is still unclear how he reached the location.”

i24 News reported that he said, “I wanted to see the view.”