Window Washer Dangles from Alabama Skyscraper After Equipment Malfunction

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Jared Cooper was having an ordinary day cleaning windows in Alabama—until it wasn't.

While tidying up the RSA Tower, Cooper found himself hanging more than 450 feet in the air after his equipment malfunctioned.

It was Cooper's first time cleaning this massive tower, representing the Squeegee Squad.

"I had a feeling something was going to happen last night, so I wasn't too sure," Cooper recalls.

Cooper's reaction to the terrifying event? Pure calm.

"It's a 50-50 shot. ... So, it was going to lock or not, and when it locked, I was like, well, here we go. Just another day. Should have seen it coming."

MFRD rescuePhoto byMobile Fire-Rescue Department

A Quick Call to Mom

While dangling in mid-air, Cooper's first thought was to call his mother.

Because, why not?

Charlotte Hopkins, his mother, described the surreal phone call: "He calls me a lot from work, and he said, 'Hey, mom, I'm stuck here on the ledge, just hanging out, waiting to see if they can get me down.'"

Now that's composure! We should all aspire to be as unflappable as Jared Cooper in a crisis.

The Cavalry Arrives

Enter the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department. Captain Robert Brown bravely lowered himself down to rescue Cooper, safely leading them both to an open window.

"I was pretty high up, you know?" Brown said. "But during the moment, I really wasn't thinking about the height or whatever. I was just, job needed to be done. We have the skill set and the equipment to do it, so we want to get it done."

The Daredevil Window Washer

Despite the malfunction, Cooper reassured everyone about the reliability of their equipment.

"We haven't had many problems with our equipment," he said. "We've noticed a couple of things that we were trying to get replaced and haven't had the chance to."

His mother, Hopkins, added a vital piece of context: "Jared has always been kind of a daredevil. It's a high-risk job, and he's like, sign me up. I'm very thankful for the fire department today, though. They were the rescuers. And I'm really proud of how quickly they reacted and how they took care of him."

Emphasizing Workplace Safety

While Cooper's adventure ended on a positive note, it serves as a crucial reminder about the importance of workplace safety, especially in high-risk jobs like window cleaning.

Proper maintenance of equipment, regular safety checks, and thorough training are essential to prevent such incidents.

Employers and employees must work together to ensure a safe working environment.

As seen with Cooper, even with the best precautions, accidents can happen, making it vital to have quick and effective emergency response plans in place.

The Heroic Rescue

It's clear that Jared Cooper's high-flying adventure ended well, thanks to his calm demeanor and the swift actions of the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department.

"Couldn't. Be. Me." sums up the sentiment perfectly.

We salute Cooper's bravery and the fire department's heroic efforts in bringing him back to solid ground.

Here's to more grounded adventures in the future, Jared!

Sources:

• Alabama Window Washer Left Dangling From Skyscraper After Equipment Malfunctions
• Window washer dangling from rope near top of RSA Tower in Mobile rescued by firefighters
• ‘Just another day’: Stranded window washer recounts dangling from RSA Tower
• Alabama window washer dangling outside skyscraper rescued after equipment jams 450 feet above ground