“Worst nightmare filmed”: escalator swallows man during rush hour, old video goes viral

Updated May 25, 2024, 4:00 PM IST

According to one comment, the incident occurred at Maslak-Ayazaga metro station in Istanbul.

The video was shared on

A shocking video was posted on social media, capturing a harrowing scene in a busy subway station. The footage, which initially shows a crowded scene with commuters using an escalator, takes a terrifying turn when the escalator suddenly malfunctions, causing it to collapse and trap a person in its mechanisms.

The video shared on the microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter) by the username @crazyclipsa has been viewed more than 5 million times. Many took to the comments section to express their concerns, with one saying: “May we never be victims of circumstances.” »

The video shows the commuter plummeting between the broken steps.

A comment on the video detailed the background of the incident, claiming that it was from 2018. According to the comment, the incident took place at the Maslak-Ayazaga metro station in Istanbul.

The commentary further added that commuter Mehmet Ali Erik narrowly escaped a horrific fate after being swallowed by a faulty escalator. The incident occurred despite the escalator being closed for maintenance, with barriers erected to deter access. Surprisingly, on the day of the accident, an unknown person removed these barriers, allowing passengers, without their knowledge, to use the non-operational escalator. As more travelers boarded the faulty escalator, the accumulated weight proved too much, causing the connecting elements to collapse and the steps to collapse.

Despite serious injuries, including a broken arm and multiple lacerations, Erik survived. The firefighters’ quick action was crucial as they worked tirelessly to extract him from the metal structure, a process that took almost an hour. After his rescue, Erik was quickly transported to the hospital for urgent medical treatment. White Desk officials visited him during his hospital stay, ensuring his recovery was closely monitored until his eventual release, according to the commentary.