Window Washers Rescued From Scaffolding At Midtown High-Rise Building

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Two window washers have been pulled to safety after they became trapped on scaffolding 62 floors up at a Midtown high-rise building, according to the FDNY.

The workers became stuck around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Marriott Residence Inn and Courtyard Hotel on Broadway between 54th and 55th streets.

With winds whipping and rain falling, the two window washers dangled for more than an hour in the cold, CBS2's Tracee Carrasco reported.

Firefighters were eventually able to secure the men with ropes before breaking a window and pulling them safely into the building.

Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Ferrante said the decision was made to cut through the window, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported.

"It took us about 20 minutes from start to finish from getting on the scene and it was several layers," Ferrante said.

Louis Merced, a mechanic with R&R Scaffolding, said the equipment malfunctioned but the workers are OK.

"They're fine, they were in no immediate danger; they just couldn't move," he said. "They came off the rig laughing, they were laughing, joking. To them, it's not that serious either. They were not hurt, nothing is wrong with them."

Once the men were inside, the scaffolding was hoisted up to the roof.

Tourists and others trying to get through West 54th Street -- which was shut down -- could only watch.

"Just trying to get back to my room, get my car and I can't, can't go anywhere. So, just waiting it out," said Kimberly Horn.

"That is a scary job and anyone who does that has a lot of guts," said one person.

The hotel stands at 750 feet high with 68 stories. It opened in late 2013 and claimed to be the tallest single-use hotel building in North America, Carrasco reported.

The New York State Department of Labor was on scene investigating along with the Department of Buildings.