A scene that seemed ordinary turned into a nightmare for three adults and a small girl who became trapped in an elevator as it descended to the garage of the Vendome Place building, located at the intersection of 43rd Street and Collins Avenue in Miami Beach.
The heavy rain battering the city at that moment caused a swift flooding, turning the elevator into a dangerous water trap that threatened to end in tragedy.
The scene, which was captured by the building's surveillance cameras, showed how the water suddenly began to seep under the elevator door.
"Today is not my day to die."
Rick Sardana, a resident of the building for seven years, was one of the main figures in the dramatic incident.
The man descended to the garage with the aim of moving his sports car, concerned about the heavy rain falling in southern Florida.
Traveling with him were his neighbor, Bruno Barros, and the latter's daughter, Giordana, who was only four years old, along with a third neighbor.
The images show the elevator shaking violently before coming to a complete stop, which is followed by a sudden leak of water that began to rise alarmingly.
"The elevator stopped, water started coming in from below and also from above. I was only thinking about my daughters and my wife, who were upstairs unaware of what was happening. I said: 'Today is not my day to die' and I forced the door until it opened," Sardana recounted in statements to the local press, with evident emotion.
"In some way, I got my fingers caught in the elevator, it took me a couple of tries, and God knows how we managed to open the elevator door," she added.
A daughter in arms and a neighbor turned hero
Bruno Barros, for his part, only had one priority in mind: to protect his daughter.
“I only thought about my daughter. I had to keep her calm. In my mind, I accepted that it could be the end. But Rick was a hero. When he opened the door, I felt like it was a rebirth,” he stated emotionally.
"We heard a loud bang, and after that bang, the elevator shook, and then water started flooding the inside, and we spent 20 seconds in shock," he recalled.
During those moments of uncertainty, Rick Sardana played a crucial role.
"She (my daughter) said that I was her superhero, but Rick was our superhero. God gave him so much strength at that moment," Barros noted.
Both men managed to exit the elevator with the girl in their arms, facing the water that had already risen to their waists. Despite the total loss of Sardana's sports car, the most important thing was that everyone came out unscathed.
A lesson learned
The material consequences of the incident were considerable: More than 40 vehicles were rendered unusable in the condominium garage. It took about 24 hours for the water to drain completely.
However, the experience left a much deeper mark on those who went through this elevator experience.
Since the incident, Rick Sardana has been avoiding the elevator in the building, even though he lives on the tenth floor.
The rapid accumulation of water surprised everyone. According to Sardana, an employee of the building told him that it took only eight minutes for the area to go from completely dry to being flooded up to the waist.
And although the building management has not issued any official statements about what happened, some witnesses reported seeing technicians from the elevator company inspecting the site and leaving the building while giving a thumbs-up gesture.
Meanwhile, residents are calling for urgent and effective measures. They believe it is essential to implement emergency protocols that address these types of extreme situations.
"Never take the elevator during floods or fires, that's my big lesson," Sardana stated.
Frequently asked questions about the elevator incident in Miami Beach
What happened in the elevator of the Vendome Place building in Miami Beach?
The elevator in the Vendome Place building quickly flooded due to the intense rain, trapping three adults and a child. Water began to seep in from beneath and above the elevator door, turning the area into a dangerous trap.
How did the people trapped in the elevator manage to get out?
Rick Sardana, one of those trapped, forced the elevator door open, allowing everyone to escape. He described the experience as a moment of survival, driven by the desire to see his family again.
What were the material consequences of the incident in the elevator?
The incident caused significant damage to the building's garage, with over 40 vehicles rendered unusable due to the flooding. It took approximately 24 hours for the water to fully drain.
What measures are residents requesting after the elevator incident?
Residents of the building consider it essential to implement emergency protocols for extreme situations such as floods. They request urgent and effective measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
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