A Starbucks worker has been immobilised after falling 25 feet down a lift shaft.
The woman, who is in her 20s, was rushed to hospital with a broken leg and pelvis after being rescued from the confined space she fell into.
Emergency services completed the "difficult" rescue from the café in Solihull, Birmingham, which has two stories and a basement, around an hour after she fell.
It is believed the woman tried to use the lift but when she stepped into the shaft there was nothing there.
The "terrible" ordeal had left Starbucks "shocked and distressed", a spokeswoman for the company said.
“We are shocked and distressed by this terrible incident and we’re working closely with the authorities as they investigate how this could have happened.”
- Starbucks spokeswoman
At least one fire engine, an ambulance and a police car were in attendance at the store, while staff taped up the entrance and led customers inside at the time of the incident out of the café.
West Midlands Ambulance Service said in a statement: "Ambulance staff were told that the woman in her 20s had tried to use the lift but when she stepped into the lift shaft there was nothing there and she fell approximately 25 feet to the bottom of the shaft.
"She fell approximately 25 feet to the bottom of the shaft.
It added: “The woman had suffered probable breaks to her pelvis and leg. After being immobilised and had splints applied, she was taken by ambulance to the major trauma centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham for further assessment and treatment.”