Elderly man dies in lift accident at home

Kottayam: A 75-year-old man died on Wednesday after his head was trapped in a homemade lift outside his house at Kadammanitta in Pathanamthitta district. The deceased, Mathukutty, was a retired KSRTC employee.The accident occurred when Mathukutty and his wife, Susamma, were at home. Fire and rescue personnel rushed to the spot, but could not save him.The lift, installed near the house gate beside the car-parking shed, was not a standard elevator but a structure built using square pipes and other materials. Mathukutty, who had physical limitations, used it to access the house, which stands on elevated ground. His children installed the lift, as entering the house otherwise was difficult for him.According to initial findings, Mathukutty entered the lift after returning home and parking his car. Hearing a loud noise, Susamma rushed out and found his head trapped within the lift. She tried to pry open the door using a machete but failed.A power outage is suspected to have caused the lift to stall between floors causing the accident when Mathukutty put his head out. When the fire force arrived, his head was found wedged in an iron pipe inside the lift.Mathukutty is survived by Susamma, and children Jomon and Jisa.