Email: news@knssradio.com
Studio Line: (316) 436-1330
Opinion Line: (316) 247-1334
A   A   A
 Follow 
Share
Posted: Thursday, 11 October 2012 8:25AM

Hope Dims in Race to Find Man in Collapsed Florida Garage



Joe Raedle/Getty Images(DORAL, Fla.) -- Rescue workers in South Florida searching the rubble of a parking garage that collapsed Wednesday, killing two and injuring seven, are doubtful they will find a final missing construction worker alive after an intensive overnight search effort where one man was pulled out after being buried for 12 hours.

Miami Dade Police officials told ABC News their mission has shifted from search and rescue to recovery.

Searchers at the garage at Miami-Dade Community College's west campus in Doral, Fla., worked feverishly overnight delicately picking through the rubble in a race to find the last missing person, Robert Budhoo, an electrical contractor whose family says has still not answered his phone.

"He's the best dad in the world," his daughter Tasha Bagwandeen said through tears.  "We need you guys to find him, please."

Overnight, rescuers pulled construction worker Juan Samuel from the pancaked layers of the parking garage, after he spent 12 hours buried beneath five floors of collapsed concrete. He was found buried waist-deep inside his truck, and workers were forced to amputate his legs to save his life, authorities said.

Hours earlier on Wednesday, firefighters squeezed between steel beams to save another man who had also been pinned.  Police say at least 12 contractors were working on the new garage at the college when it collapsed around noon Wednesday.

Two bodies have now been recovered and seven survivors are hospitalized.  Meanwhile, Budhoo's family waits and prays that he is found alive.

"We need prayers ... because I believe in miracles," his wife Laurel Budhoo said.  "I believe in miracles."

No students were injured in collapse.  The college's campus will stay closed for the remainder of the week.

It wasn't immediately clear what caused the collapse of the partially-finished structure.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio


A   A   A
 Follow 
Share