Miami condo collapse: Firefighters talked to woman trapped in rubble but couldn’t rescue her
‘We were continuously talking to her – “Honey, we got you. We’re going to get to you,”’ an unnamed rescue worker recalls
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Firefighters say a woman trapped in the wreckage of Champlain Towers died while waiting for help, even after the rescuers managed to speak to her.
“Everybody that was there, that’s what we were trying to do, get this lady out and comfort her,” an anonymous rescue worker told WPLG. “She was asking for help and she was pleading to be taken out of there.”
Hours after the building in Surfside, Florida collapsed, rescue workers learned of a woman who was still alive in a lower level of the wreckage.
Venturing inside without even knowing yet if the rubble was stable, the crew managed to locate her voice – but it was coming from behind a wall of debris. The rescuers couldn’t reach her or even see her, but they could hear her.
“We were continuously talking to her,” the unnamed rescuer said. “‘Honey, we got you. We’re going to get to you.’”
Two children identified among Miami victims as death toll rises to 18
‘No one took them seriously’: Miami building collapse sparks resident lawsuits before the dust settles
Climate scientists say Miami building collapse is a wake up call
Fraudsters cashing in on Miami condo collapse
Firefighters offer cat food to missing pets trapped alive in the Miami condo collapse rubble
The woman said she was pinned next to a bed, and her parents were trapped somewhere near her as well.
According to a supervisor’s email obtained by WPLG, the crew kept talking to her “about 10 to 11 hours after the collapse,” but eventually had to pull back because a fire broke out nearby.
Later, the rescuers learned the woman had died.
When they were told the news, the email said, people “saw the wind knocked out of our guys”.
Miami-Dade Lt Obed Frometa, who serves as a chaplain for the group, said the death hit the rescuers with “a feeling of not only defeat, but it’s a feeling of loss. We are human, after all”.
It’s not clear if the woman’s body has yet been recovered or identified.
At least 18 people are dead and 145 still missing in the rubble of the apartment building, which collapsed on 24 June.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments