What A Lovely Way To Die...*shudder* - Eternal Allegiance

astrocamel · 08-20-2003, 06:47 PM

Doctor decapitated by elevator doors at Houston hospital
By PEGGY O'HARE
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle

A doctor was killed today at Christus St. Joseph Hospital when an elevator malfunctioned, decapitating him, authorities said.

Hitoshi Nikaidoh, 35, of Dallas, a surgical resident at the hospital at 1919 La Branch, was stepping onto a second-floor elevator in the main building around 9:30 a.m. when the doors closed, pinning his shoulders, said Harold Jordan, an investigator with the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office. The elevator car then moved upward, severing the doctor's head, Jordan said.

A woman who also works at the hospital was on the elevator at the time and witnessed the accident, police said. Because of the malfunction, she was trapped on the elevator for 15 or 20 minutes before firefighters were able to reach her, police said. The woman was not injured, but was later taken to the emergency room because she was in shock, said Sgt. Kenneth Perkins of the Houston Police Department's Special Operations Division.

Nikaidoh was on duty at the time and wearing his doctor coat and surgical scrubs when the accident happened, Jordan said.

The scene was one of chaos when police and firefighters first arrived at the hospital, Perkins said. Medical personnel were in disbelief, some crying. "They were trying to console one another. Just to see other people in disarray -- the looks on their faces pretty much told the whole story," he said.

Police have launched an investigation into the accident. St. Joseph Hospital officials have taken the entire elevator bank out of service, but normal patient services have not been interrupted.

Hospital officials would not answer any questions Saturday about the accident since the investigation has just begun. They also would not reveal the name of the elevator manufacturer.

One worker at the hospital said there had been problems in the past with these particular elevators and that maintenance crews had been trying to service them in the past week, Perkins said.

Nikaidoh was a member of the 2003 class of the University of Texas-Houston Medical School, where he previously served as Student InterCouncil President. He also was an avid runner, participating in marathons and triathlons.

Hospital spokeswoman India Chumney Hancock would not discuss Nikaidoh's background or how long he had been with the hospital. "In respect for the family, we're not giving out any information," she said Saturday.

"Since the investigation has just begun, we're not answering any questions at this time," she said.

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All I have to say is....EEK!

Angel_Eyes · 08-20-2003, 06:53 PM

Lenghthen · 08-20-2003, 06:55 PM

OMG! That is horrible. I feel so bad for his family. But, I feel really bad for the lady who witnessed it...OMG. That must have been horrible...

Nanny · 08-20-2003, 07:43 PM

Isn't it Ironic? Dont you think? A little too ironic. And yeah I really really really really really do think. Its like raeeeeeeeeeeyaaaaaaaain...

Can you imagine seeing that? Can you imagine that high pitch scream that must have been coming out of that woman for a good 15 minutes? I'm curious of the credibility of this source though.

Quinn · 08-20-2003, 07:55 PM

I heard about this on the news, all the news channels. That musta been, like, shocking. I know I would probably need therapy for the rest of my life if i'd ever see something like that.

FantaOrSprite · 08-20-2003, 08:16 PM

^you got that right. I would be in shock for a year. I feel so bad for that guy. That is a horrible way to die.

Nanny · 08-20-2003, 08:27 PM

I dont feel bad for him. He probably went through minimal pain. I never feel sorry for the people who died. Yeah, its sad that they died and such, but they're not the ones that have to live with it (forgive the pun). I feel sorry for the mental victims (Those emotionally effected by the death) For example, the woman in the elevator will probably need a hell of a lot of therapy and counselling to cope with that. And I feel bad for the family members that have to have that in their minds. Those are the people who need the sympathies.

I hope I dont sound like an asshole.

midnightman · 08-20-2003, 09:40 PM

Therapy can only help some people, those who are willing to change. Some people just can't be helped; I'm seeing that in my life with a person or two...

Anyway I envy that guy. It was over for him in seconds. Minimal pain as Swany said.

Rigeri · 08-21-2003, 06:08 AM

See this is why I´m scared of elevators...

I once was trying to stop an elevator from closing when I was like a 10 year old... so I put my hand between the door and it got stuck... I was so afraid because my hand was all the way inside the elevator and I could see the lights inside it like it was working like normal, except the door.

I started crying.. it was so horrible because it took me like 5 minutes to free my hand (with a help from a friend).. It was only 3 floor building so people didn't use the elevator much... But still I was scared to death that someone would presh the button on another floor

Its a horrible way to die... not because of the pain... But because of the FEAR...

The poor doctor probably saw the elevator comming up before it decapitated him

I feel sorry for him and his family, and also the woman that was inside the elevator.

britneynotagirl · 08-21-2003, 01:53 PM

thats awful