Miami building collapse: Video shows ‘defeated’ Surfside responder as hurricane now threatens rescue effort
‘He looks extremely sad’
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.A video showing a “defeated” looking worker assisting in the search and rescue mission following the partial collapse of a residential building in Surfside, Florida, has gone viral, with many TikTok users sharing words of support and encouragement for the “exhausted” rescuer.
Posted on TikTok by a user with the handle “@pichichipixx”, the video shows a worker walking away from the rescue site at the partially-collapsed Champlain Towers South condominium.
“This guy finished a 12-hour shift looking for survivors in the rubble,” a text overlay reads. “He looks exhausted.”
Since being published on Wednesday, the video has been viewed more than 4.4 million times and received more than 700,000 likes.
Commenting on the video, one user said: “He looks tired as well as defeated”.
That isn't just exhaustion, it's heartbreak as well,” another person said.
“He looks extremely sad,” another added.
@pichichipixx Search and Rescue at Champlain Towers
♬ original sound - pichichipixx
One user, with the handle Lauren Nicole, has claimed that the worker is her husband, writing in a comment: “That's my amazingly hardworking husband that we are missing so much! I'm so proud of him!”
"Tell him we are praying for everyone on scene and are so grateful to him," one person responded, with another writing: "He's a hero."
The video comes amid concerns that tropical-storm-turned-hurricane Elsa could threaten rescue efforts.
With Elsa strengthening into a hurricane, parts of the eastern Caribbean are on alert as it hits Barbados, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Experts have warned that the hurricane could hit Florida by next week, with parts of the southern Florida Peninsula at risk of facing heavy winds and rainfall as the storm makes land.
Search efforts could have to be put on pause if the hurricane does threaten the area, despite many people who lived in the building still being unaccounted for.
Officials have confirmed the deaths of at least 18 people in the building collapse.
However, a further 145 remain unaccounted for after the 13-story building collapsed in the middle of the night 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