NOFD rescue two from 48th floor window cleaning accident

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New Orleans firefighters pulled off a daring rescue from the side of a downtown skyscraper Friday, saving two window washers left dangling more than 40 stories above the street after a cable snapped on their scaffolding unit.

Jorge Gomez and Willie Everidge, both 58, expressed their gratitude after clinging to their failed equipment for approximately 9 minutes along the Common Street side of the Place St. Charles building at 201 St. Charles Ave.

The workers said their scaffolding broke as they reached the building's 49th floor. Fast-responding New Orleans firefighters scrambled to the scene within five minutes of the initial 911 call at 8:58 a.m. Glass contractors working at the building already had broken out a window on the 40th floor, and firefighters used that access point to pull both men inside as spectators applauded from the streets below.

Gomez said, "When God gave me the strength to hold on, and I saw the glass break from the firemen, I said, 'Thank you, Jesus!'"

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