A worker at a Middletown hosiery factory outlet is recovering Tuesday after falling 20 feet down an elevator shaft.

"He was on the second floor. He said he pressed the button to go on the elevator and when he stepped out there was no elevator there and he fell approximately 20 feet in the shaft," said Middletown Fire Department Chief Sam Barone. "There was a bunch of cardboard boxes which helped break his fall."

The victim, 28-year-old Joseph Lefkowitz, of Brooklyn, remained conscious the entire time. He was taken to Hackensack Medial Center, where he underwent several tests. Lefkowitz appears to be OK.

Officials are investigating whether the building owner failed to properly maintain the elevator, leading to the accident.