A 14-year-old Dublin boy was crushed to death while "lift surfing" with friends in a Dublin Corporation flats complex, an inquest heard yesterday.
Dublin City Coroner's Court was told the activity, which involves standing on top of the lift as it goes up and down inside the shaft, is widely known in high-rise buildings around the world. It also has been noted in other Dublin estates, and some preventive measures have been taken.
James Nolan (14), of Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, suffered severe crush injuries in the incident at Block 3, St Michael's Estate, and was dead on arrival at St James's Hospital on April 23rd last.
Statements from three of his school friends, Mark Tighe, Barry O'Neill and Jonathan Murray, which were read to the inquest, described how they had "mitched" from school and gone to St Michael's Estate.
When a garda called to them to get off the lift they tried to get away but Jason became trapped.
Mr Michael O'Reilly of Dolphin's Barn fire station said the youth was discovered trapped in the lift shaft "between a girder on the wall and part of the lift-car". There were no signs of life when he was freed.
Garda Kenneth McDonald said he was patrolling the complex as part of Operation Dochas and heard voices from the lift shaft. He twice called on those inside to get down. As the lift began to move, he heard a cry of "Stop it" and the lift stopped. Seconds later two very agitated youths told him their friends were trapped in the lift shaft. One of them emerged uninjured.
Sgt Alan Flood said one of the youths described in detail to him how they were able to enter the lift shaft and cause the lift to go up and down while they rode on top of it. He added that the lift was a standard one which conformed to all EU standards. Sgt Flood confirmed to the coroner that an expert report on lifts in high-rise buildings, presented to the inquest, stated that "joyriding on the top of lifts is a worldwide problem".
Mr Joseph Morrissey, chief electrical engineer with Dublin Corporation, said action had been taken to try to prevent "lift surfing" in Ballymun, but this was the first time the activity had been noted in St Michael's Estate.
A post-mortem examination showed that Jason Nolan died of fat emboli in his lungs consequent to multiple crush injuries. The coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, said the only consolation he could offer the family was that Jason has succumbed to unconsciousness and died very quickly.
The jury returned a verdict of death by misadventure and added a rider that in light of the prevalence of "lift surfing" all concerned parties should make every effort to prevent a similar tragedy occurring.