Patricia Ovalles was buried under dead bodies and rubble for six hours before being rescued thanks to her quick thinking using the phone of a dead man above her to call her son’s father for help
A woman who survived the horrific roof collapse at a Dominican Republic club, which claimed 225 lives, has shared her terrifying experience.
In the early hours of Tuesday, April 8 the roof of the Jet Set Club nightclub in the Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo collapsed on revellers. Randolfo Rijo Gómez, director of the country’s 911 system, said it received more than 100 calls, with several of those made by people buried under the rubble.
He noted that police arrived at the scene in 90 seconds, followed minutes later by first response units. In less than half an hour, 25 soldiers, seven fire brigades and 77 ambulances were scrambled to the scene, with crews used dogs and thermal cameras to search for victims.
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Officials initially said 189 people were rescued alive from the rubble, with 15 still in hospital, including five in a critical condition. Four people sadly died overnight, raising the totaldeath toll to 225 by Saturday and health authorities said all of their bodies have been returned to their families.
Footage captured inside during a performance by singer Rubby Perez showed people dancing and singing as the ceiling began to cave in. One of those trapped under the rubble was Patricia Ovalles. Speaking to Univision from her hospital bed, recounting the horror of being trapped under dead bodies in the rubble for nearly six hours.
She recalled: “I heard a cell phone ring from another person, but he was dead. He had his hand on top of me, and he was dead because he had the light [from the phone] on his face.”
Patricia managed to find the phone and called the father of her son. “Please, protect my son. Don’t tell him anything. Protect my son, protect my father, protect my mamma,” she pleaded with him, adding, “I don’t want God to let me die because I don’t want my son to see me dead.”, reports the Mirror US.
Patricia recalled hearing many people crying for help while other partygoers lay dead on top of her. She remembered water raining down on the dance floor before the roof fell, followed by a shower of dust.
She recounted: “I kept looking, but Rubby Perez said, ‘It’s sand,’ and he covered his face. His daughter said, ‘Papi, let’s go.’ He said, ‘No, I’m going to continue.’ The song was for her that he was going to sing for her. She told him, ‘I don’t feel well,’ but he sang it. It was all too fast. Everything was destroyed. Everything. A lot of people crying out, ‘Help me, I’m here.'”.
In the devastating event, Perez was killed along with fellow ex-major leaguers Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco. Tragically, Nelsy Cruz, Montecristi governor and sister to baseball star Nelson Cruz, also lost her life.
A compassionate rescuer covered Patricia with his coat, declaring it her rebirth day as tears streamed down his face. Patricia said: “They told me, ‘You survived.’ Thank God. You have a reason to live.”
An investigation into the collapse is expected. Authorities have not released any preliminary findings or commented on what might have caused the roof to fall.
