In the Entrevías district of Madrid, a 77-year-old man died after falling into an elevator shaft that was left open during renovation work inside a mid‑rise building. He was reportedly attempting to push his wife through the shaft opening, and during the struggle the pair fell into the shaft themselves. He did not survive the fall, and his wife sustained grave injuries that required immediate hospitalization.
Police sources told the news agency EFE that the man had tried to push his wife through the opening of the elevator shaft, and during the ensuing struggle both fell. Neighbors described the couple as people who argued regularly, though residents emphasized that the tense moment on that day did not reflect a pattern of violence.
Initial assessments by the scientific police point to this hypothesis, based on the positions of the two bodies when responders recovered them from the shaft. Investigators say the exact sequence will require careful examination of the scene and interviews with witnesses.
Firefighters from Madrid’s city service rescued both victims from inside the shaft. After a careful extraction, medical teams joined the effort to stabilize them at the site before transporting them to hospital for treatment.
The man experienced a cardiopulmonary arrest that could not be reversed after about 30 minutes of ongoing resuscitation by the Samur-Protección Civil medical teams, according to Emergencies Madrid. The intervention ended with the man not surviving the event.
The woman endured multiple traumatic injuries and, after stabilization by the emergency services, was transported to the hospital in grave condition. She remained under close medical supervision as doctors assessed her injuries.
The Municipal Police prepared the initial report, while the National Police took charge of the ongoing investigations into the incident and its circumstances.
Observers note that the accident highlights the dangers present at renovation projects within occupied buildings, especially near elevator shafts and other confined spaces. Authorities urged strict adherence to safety protocols on construction sites to prevent similar tragedies.
Investigators continue the inquiry, examining the scene, reviewing renovation records, and interviewing neighbors and workers to determine the sequence of events and whether safety measures were followed in this case.