NYPD free man who was locked for NINE HOURS inside vault of jewelry store in NYC's diamond district after workers locked the doors behind him as he was accessing safety deposit box

New York City Police and Fire Departments worked through the night on Tuesday to free a man who was accidentally locked for nine hours inside one of the city's jewelry store vaults in the Diamond District. 

The unidentified 23-year-old customer was accessing his safe deposit box at the World Diamond Tower when workers unknowingly closed the door behind him. 

According to officials, the man was locked in at around 8.45pm Tuesday and was finally freed around 6.00am the next day. 

The vault, which is located in the basement of the building, has a door that operates with a time clock - meaning that it cannot be unlocked before the time set during installation. 

The New York Police Department had to free an innocent man who was locked for nine hours inside one of the city's jewelry store vaults in the Diamond District

According to officials, the man was locked in at around 8.45pm Tuesday and was finally freed around 6.00am the next day.

 The vault, which is located in the basement of the building, has a door that operates with a time clock - meaning that it cannot be unlocked before the time set during installation

No employee or officials can override the system. The vault is a 'community vault', owned by DGA Security as there are multiple stores inside the 580 Fifth Avenue building. 

FDNY official John Sarrocco explained: 'There was a customer inside the vault at the time that it closes. Once it's closed, it's on a timing mechanism. That vault does not reopen until a certain amount of time passes.'

Once the door locked itself for security purposes and the man realized he was stuck, he dialed 911. Within minutes – there was a huge rescue operation on the ground. 

First responders attempted to cut through the vault's concrete wall but stopped once they hit metal plating.

It was then decided by officials that the best course of action was to wait until the door unlocked itself in the morning to free the customer. 

Chief of Department John Hodgens said: 'The problem with the plating is we'd have to use our torches on there, which would infect the environment of the person inside the vault. 

'Some time this morning, around 6.15 this morning, the vault opened on its own and the customer was released.'

Officials confirmed that the man had an ample supply of oxygen in the vault and did not sustain any physical injuries 

FDNY official John Sarrocco explained, 'There was a customer inside the vault at the time that it closes. Once it's closed, it's on a timing mechanism. That vault does not reopen until a certain amount of time passes'

First responders attempted to cut through the vault's concrete wall but stopped once they hit metal plating. It was then decided by officials that the best course of action was to wait until the door unlocked itself in the morning to free the customer

The World Diamond Tower is located at the heart of the Diamond District on Fifth Avenue and 47th Street. It serves as the Diamond Exchange in the city

Authorities communicated with the man using a phone system and his condition was also being monitored through video throughout the ordeal.

Firefighters had also ran a hose to the basement of the building to keep the dust down and cool the tools to avoid any issues to the vault. 

Once freed, the man was checked by EMS on the scene and released. 

The World Diamond Tower is located at the heart of the Diamond District on Fifth Avenue and 47th Street. .