Worker Rescued After Being Trapped in Sign

An Illinois maintenance worker found himself stuck for over six hours in a gas station sign after an elevator malfunctioned. The worker, AJ Gow, was attempting repairs on a large billboard along Lorenzo Road near Interstate 55 in Wilmington on a Tuesday afternoon when the incident occurred.

At around 1:55 p.m., the Wilmington Fire District received a call about a worker trapped atop an enclosed sign pole. According to officials, “The telescoping boom lift the worker was using malfunctioned,” and he remained elevated for approximately three hours before help could reach him.

The fire district faced several challenges during the rescue. There were no built-in steps or ladders on the beacon pole, so rescuers couldn’t climb it without another elevator. Additionally, the fire district’s truck ladder only extended up to 30 feet, leaving Gow still 30 feet above the ground.

Eventually, a boom lift was located in Joliet, about 20 miles away. Illinois State Police escorted it to the scene to assist in getting Gow down from the towering sign.

Once the new elevator was in place, firefighters contacted Gow to bring him safely back to solid ground. “Seeing the elevator start moving with a police escort was definitely the highlight of my day!!” Gow’s partner expressed gratitude towards the first responders who came to help.

Gow later shared on social media that his time trapped inside wasn’t pleasant. He described the tight space, stating he spent over six hours in a position that was uncomfortable, as the sign was only 16 inches wide and didn’t allow him to stand fully upright. “I was too hot and thirsty to worry about it. I was even more nauseous and dizzy,” he recounted.

After the ordeal, he went to the hospital for dehydration. It’s a wild reminder of how unpredictable work can be—and how quickly situations can take a turn.