A window washer is alive after falling from an eight-story building in downtown Portland Thursday, officials said.

The incident occurred at the Morgan Building, on Southwest Washington Street between Southwest Park Street and Southwest Broadway, when the unidentified victim fell from the roof after he said his equipment failed.

"Out of the corner of my eye, I saw this flash," a witness told FOX 12. "There was a little vibration you could feel when he landed on the ground, it was crazy."

The victim reportedly landed on his feet and sustained injuries to his ankles, though he remained conscious the entire time, according to witness Taisa Antipin, who was working at the building at the time.

"I ran out and asked if he was OK," she told FOX 12. "He said, 'I don't know.'"

Antipin said the man's hands were injured and it looked like he had suffered rope burns trying to keep himself from falling. He was still attached to the rope when paramedics arrived, a spokesman for Portland Fire & Rescue said.

Oregon's Occupational Health and Safety Administration is investigating the incident, a spokesman said Friday.

-- Kale Williams

kwilliams@oregonian.com

503-294-4048