Man crushed to death by lift

The lift was in a New York City apartment building. Photo / Getty Images

A 37-year-old man has been crushed to death by a lift in a New York city apartment building.

Eran Modan was visiting friends in Brooklyn when he stepped into the lift early on Friday with four others, The New York Times reported.

With the door still open, the lift suddenly plunged to the basement.

Modan tried to escape but was only halfway out when the lift shot back up toward the lobby, crushing him against the ceiling of the basement.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"As it went up, he tried to jump out and was caught in between two floors," one of the friends said.

"His body was squashed."

The lift had previously drawn complaints from tenants for its unpredictable behaviour, according to the Times.

- AAP