Two window washers have been rescued from the 39th floor of a high-rise in Bellevue, Washington, after becoming stranded above the city during difficult conditions.
The workers were on an exterior platform at the 555 Tower on 108th Avenue Northeast on Friday evening when they needed assistance. One of them is understood to have called 911 at about 4.45pm, reporting that strong winds had made the descent unsafe.
Bellevue Fire Department rope-rescue technicians reached the pair from the roof, secured them to safety lines and brought them down using a controlled rope system. The workers were lowered roughly 600ft to the ground.
The 555 Tower is a 42-storey building, with the window washers stranded close to the top of the structure. No injuries were reported.
Firefighters from Redmond also joined the operation, while Bellevue police provided a drone to help crews assess the scene and coordinate the rescue. Traffic was diverted nearby as emergency services worked at the site.
Redmond firefighters later said the operation had been carried out in high winds and darkness, describing the conditions as extremely challenging. They said the successful rescue reflected extensive training, preparation and co-ordination between the agencies.
It remains unclear what caused the window-washing platform to become stuck.
