Being buried alive is one of my greatest fears. However I always imagined it in a box underground. I never gave much thought to be being buried alive by rubble as a building came crashing down on me. I guess I can go ahead and add that to the list now. Luckily, this elderly woman survives her building collapsing on her. Although I do not envy her the 24 hours that she spent trapped beneath the rubble.
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Elderly Woman Survives A Building Collapsing On Her
Honestly this is an incredible feat. I think her survival has to do with three things, her quick-thinking, the rescuer's skill, and a whole lot of luck. Although I do have to disagree with some of the woman's choices. According to People Magazine, the building in which the woman was living was deemed "structurally unsafe last year."
Given that piece of news, most of the residents of the building chose to leave and find another home. Honestly, I cannot say I blame them. The building was older, constructed in the 1950s and was deemed to have "a structurally unsound central pillar." That unsound pillar is believed to be the source of the collapse.
Although 80 residents were evacuated, this elderly woman decided to stay in her home. A choice I am not sure I would have made. However, when the danger began, she did try to flee. We know that because the rescue teams found her in the stairwell area. Thus insinuating that as soon as she knew there was danger she tried to flee the scene.
Unfortunately, she was not quick enough and the building collapsed on top of her. She was trapped for 24 hours before her rescuers found her. Luckily, People shared that "She had been trapped in an air pocket, created by a security door that reportedly led to an attic, which kept her alive."
Incredible Rescue Efforts
Many people, I am sure including the elderly woman who survived a building collapsing on her, were grateful for the rescue team. Bystanders of the event broke out in applause when they pulled the poor woman from the rubble. After she was safely transported to a nearby hospital the local fire and rescue agency, Vigili dl Fuoco, shared their praise on X.
The post commented on the perseverance and commitment of all of the rescue personnel and thanked them for their courage. I also commended them for the extreme success of the situation. Besides the elderly woman, two other families had chosen to stay in the building despite its lack of structural support.
Fortunately, one of those families was on vacation so they were not in the building during the collapse. The other family was located on the first floor and was able to evacuate safely. I am sure next time a warning is given about building structure, all of these people will heed it.
