Window cleaners rescued after getting stuck at 15th floor of London skyscraper

Window cleaners rescued after getting stuck at 15th floor of London skyscraper Dramatic images showed the moment firefighters rescued two window cleaners stuck 15 storeys outside a London skyscraper Two window cleaners were dramatically rescued after their cradle malfunctioned on the 15th storey of a central London skyscraper. The men had been working outside the One Blackfriars skyscraper in Southwark on Thursday evening when they became trapped on a suspended platform outside the high-rise, London Fire Brigade said. Firefighters were called to the scene at 5.22pm and a 64m turntable ladder was sent to the scene to bring the pair down to safety within 45 minutes. Photographs from the scene showed the yellow structure extending out of a fire engine to reach the men. The incident was "under control" by 6.15pm, the fire service said. A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said of the incident: "Thankfully no-one was hurt and the men were rescued safely and quickly. "This is a great example of how the Brigade uses its specialist equipment to meet the challenges of London’s built environment. It is vital that we continue to have the right equipment to enable us to respond effectively and keep London’s communities safe." The ladder that was used to rescue the window cleaners is the tallest aerial appliance in Europe and it is able to reach heights of up to 20 floors. The One Blackfriars by Berkeley building is a mixed-use development, which sits at around 558 feet tall and overlooks the River Thames. The London Fire Brigade this week revealed it will return to its historic headquarters on Albert Embankment. The brigade, which has been based on Union Street in Southwark since 2007, will go back to the Albert Embankment after the LFB received planning permission from Lambeth Council. This building, which was initially opened in the 1930s, houses the existing Lambeth fire station on the ground floor but the site will be refurbished and modernised to also include offices for the brigade. LFB commissioner Jonathan Smith said: "This building is part of the culture of the organisation and I know it holds special significance across our workforce. "Refurbishing and modernising an existing building offers the best value for Londoners and ensures we maintain an important presence in the heart of London."