Escalator reverses, injures at least 18 people

How often do you step onto an escalator without actually realising how dangerous they could be if something went wrong?

I've stepped onto countless escalators carrying me and loads of other people between floors. Quite often I've wondered what would happen if the escalator suddenly came to a halt?

More often than not you're pretty high up too and the sides aren't always that safe.

See: Woman accidentally drops baby from escalator

 If you think about it, an escalator is a brilliant invention, moving a large amount of people to any given place at one time. However, when things go wrong on an escalator - it is far from pretty!

Watch the terrifying moment when 18 people were injured after an escalator they were travelling on suddenly malfunctioned and sped in the opposite direction!

Warning: This footage is not for sensitive viewers.