Ten Shoppers Trapped for Two Hours in Sainsbury’s Lift Incident

A harrowing incident occurred at a Sainsbury’s store in Blackpool when a lift malfunction left ten shoppers trapped for over two hours. The emergency unfolded on March 15, 2024, as the lift made unsettling noises before plummeting, causing passengers to lose their footing.

According to eyewitness accounts, the ordeal began when the lift emitted a loud grinding noise, leading to panic among those inside. Jason Redshaw, 53, described the moment the lift fell, stating, “Suddenly we felt as if the ground kind of fell away beneath us and as if basically we were dropping and that the system had just failed.”

As the situation escalated, the group attempted to signal for help after the emergency bell system malfunctioned. Redshaw recounted how they resorted to banging on the lift doors and shouting, but their efforts went unheard. Among those trapped were individuals with pre-existing health conditions, including a man with a lung ailment and another who recently received a heart diagnosis.

In an attempt to attract attention, one shopper used a frying pan he had purchased to strike the metal doors. Redshaw noted, “One gentleman had bought a frying pan and he was actually using it to bang on the metal doors of the lift but to no avail, nobody could hear us.”

After an hour of distress, firefighters managed to open the lift doors slightly, allowing them to pass through drinks and chocolate bars to the anxious shoppers. The situation finally resolved at around 16:00 when a lift engineer arrived to conduct the rescue.

Redshaw described the experience as “traumatic” and expressed concern about future elevator rides. A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s addressed the incident, stating, “Our Blackpool store manager is in contact with the customers involved and has explained how sorry we are for their experience.” The company has since closed the lift while a thorough investigation into the incident takes place.

The Blackpool incident highlights the critical need for reliable safety measures in public spaces, especially concerning emergency systems that should protect patrons in distress.