Alabama authorities say a window washer survived a 13-story plunge down the side of an Alabama hospital tower yesterday. The worker was getting onto a platform outside the building when his safety equipment malfunctioned, says the Birmingham Fire Battalion Chief, adding that the gear slowed his descent some and he was fortunate to land in an area with newly planted bushes and mulch to help break his fall. He was conscious when he was taken to UAB Hospital, where he's recovering. (More Alabama stories.)