Sometimes it pays to have a little padding

WASHINGTON - A construction worker who fell about 40 feet down an elevator shaft is nearly unhurt, with no serious injuries. District of Columbia Fire and EMS spokesman Alan Etter said the man, who's about 25 years old, was working on a house under construction in Southeast Washington Friday morning.

The worker, who Etter says weighs more than 300 pounds, was standing on a plywood platform in the elevator shaft at the top level of the house.

The board couldn't support his weight and the man fell 40 feet down the shaft before he crashed into the basement. He broke two more platforms on his way down.

The worker wasn't wearing safety equipment, Etter said.

"It is unbelievable that the guy first of all survived, and secondly survived with what appear to be minor injuries," Etter said.

He said it took a concerted effort on behalf of the fire department to secure the man and get him out of the basement. Etter said he suspects the man was OK because the platforms may have broken his fall.

The man has not been identified, and Etter said the hospital was probably not going to admit him.