WATCH ABOVE: Window washer describes the feeling of dangling from scaffolding at One World Trade Center.
NEW YORK – The two World Trade Center window washers whose crippled scaffold dangled for hours from the nation’s highest building are ready to speak about their life-or-death drama.
Juan Lizama and Juan Lopez will hold a news conference Friday morning about the harrowing rescue from 1 World Trade Center, union officials said.
WATCH: Window washer jokes about the view he had while hanging from scaffolding.
On Wednesday, a cable suddenly loosened on their scaffold, plunging it into an almost vertical position outside the 104-floor tower, 68 stories above the street. During two agonizing hours, one man called his wife, fearing it might be his last opportunity to speak to her.
Firefighters eventually used diamond cutters to saw through a double-layered window and pull the men to safety. Lizama and Lopez were examined at a hospital and released.
The dramatic rescue came a little more than a week after the building officially opened and was followed by New Yorkers on the ground and many others watching on live TV around the world.
WATCH: Rescued window washer just happy to be alive.
Officials haven’t determined what caused the cable problem, and it was unclear whether anything about the design of the 1,776-foot skyscraper complicates working on the window-washing scaffolds, which went into service in June.
Their union, Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ, said it makes sure workers follow rigorous safety protocols.
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