This Monday marks one week since the Jet Set tragedy, the ceiling collapse of the nightclub that resulted in the deaths of 231 people in the Dominican Republic on the early morning of April 8, and left another 180 injured.
Amid the numerous testimonies from survivors, Patricia Ovalles's account has gone viral. She is a worker from the establishment who was rescued after spending nearly six hours under the rubble.
In emotional statements to Univision, the woman recounted, in a measured manner, with great detail and on the verge of tears, the hell she endured during those hours until her rescue.
“I didn't lose consciousness, but it was drastic inside. I was trapped under debris for almost six hours,” he recounted.
What happened before the collapse?
She explained that everything happened very quickly. A worker alerted her that water was dripping from the ceiling. Patricia looked up and saw something resembling "a blue bag."
He was near the stage and recalls that the singer Rubby Pérez himself commented that it was falling like sand. His daughter Zulinka asked him to leave, but he decided to stay.
She was supposed to sing a song for Rubby's daughter, but she said she wasn't feeling well and stepped back from the stage. Rubby sang the song.
Suddenly, everything collapsed. Near Patricia, a huge lamp killed at least one person.
She recounts that a deceased woman was lying over part of her body, that she heard many people screaming, and that a man's phone next to her was ringing.
Hours later, he managed to locate his phone, which was under his abdomen, and called the father of his child in New York.
"I told my son's father, 'Please take care of my son, don't tell him anything, look after him, don't abandon him. Take care of my dad, my mom. I don't want God to let me die,'" Patricia recalled.
“I would grab a hand and say 'help me,' and it was a dead person. A woman told me: 'Don't grab him, he's dead. Hold me instead, I'm alive'”, she recounted.
The complicated rescue
When she felt the arrival of the rescuers, she had hope of survival.
First, they administered an intravenous drip to hydrate her while carefully removing the debris, as there were other survivors nearby.
A rescuer told her to conserve her strength, as she would need it because she was trapped in a difficult area.
Patricia explained that one of the biggest challenges was that, as they were removing debris, a large block pinned her body down. However, they placed a piece of wood to alleviate the pressure.
“They worked very hard”, he praised.
Near her, there was a rod that she said could have killed her.
When the rescuers finally reached her, she asked them to first remove the body of the deceased woman that was pinning her legs. The woman was tall, and after so many hours with her body on top of her, she could no longer feel her legs.
After removing the corpse, Patricia felt relief as she was able to turn around.
Finally, a rescuer threw him a bag to protect his head as he pulled him out by the arms.
She was rescued at dawn. As they pulled her out, the rescuer said through tears: “This is your date. You were born today. I saved you.”
"Her tears fell on my chest. She said to me, 'You survived, thank God. You have one more reason to live,'" concluded Patricia Ovalle, who has a long road ahead to overcome both the physical and emotional wounds left by the tragedy.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Tragedy of the Collapse at Jet Set Nightclub
How many people died in the collapse of the Jet Set nightclub?
The number of fatalities has risen to over 231 people following the collapse of the roof at the Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican Republic. This tragic event occurred during a concert by merengue artist Rubby Pérez and also left 180 people injured.
What caused the roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub?
The collapse of the roof at the Jet Set nightclub was preceded by partial detachments, such as the falling of water and sand from the ceiling. The collapse was sudden and did not allow sufficient time to evacuate the attendees, resulting in the tragic loss of lives.
Who were some of the most recognized victims of the tragedy at the Jet Set?
Among the most recognized victims of the tragedy are merengue singer Rubby Pérez, former Major League player Octavio Dotel, and fashion designer Martín Polanco. These losses have had a significant impact on the artistic and sports communities.
What was the rescue of the survivors at the Jet Set nightclub like?
The rescue of the survivors was a complicated operation that involved more than 300 brigadiers from various institutions. The rescuers worked tirelessly to remove debris and save lives, using intravenous fluids to hydrate those trapped and careful techniques to avoid further harm while freeing individuals.
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