Posted 4/05/2005 05:35:00 PM by Douglas

How long can you live on a plate of Kung Pao and an egg roll? Apparently, three days.

A deliveryman who vanished after taking Chinese food to a Bronx high-rise apartment building was found alive Tuesday after apparently spending more than three days trapped in an elevator that had become stuck between floors.

Ming Kuang Chen, 35, had been the subject of a widespread search after he failed to return to his restaurant Friday night with $200 in receipts, prompting speculation that he was the victim of armed bandits or some other urban horror.

But the disappearing deliveryman emerged Tuesday with a mean thirst and a tale of survival. He was pulled out at about 5 a.m. Tuesday by firefighters responding to an emergency call at the high-rise.

That must have sucked for him, because you know he ate the food after the first 20 minutes, but then in about an hour, he was hungry again.

Chen had no food or water throughout his ordeal. He was given water at the scene before being taken to Montefiore Medical Center, where he was treated for minor dehydration and ate an apple, cereal and a roll. "He was in very good condition," said hospital spokesman Steve Osborne.

He really wanted some iced tea, an orange, and a pop-tart, but he was abruptly told, "No Substitution!"