A woman has been killed in a freak lift accident at a New York office building.

The fire service said she was stepping in to the lift on the first floor of the building near Grand Central Terminal when either her foot or leg became caught in the closing door. The car then rose abruptly, dragging her body into the shaft and killing her.

Two women inside the life were taken to hospital with shock, but were not injured.

Investigators with several city agencies were on the scene in midtown Manhattan.

The building is home to a large advertising agency and other tenants.

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