Miami: the moving reunion of the only survivor of the collapse and the rescuers who found him in the rubble

Jonas Handle, the 15-year-old boy found in the rubble of the partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside, north of Miami Beach, met his rescuers in an emotional meeting three weeks after the tragedy.

The teenager, according to his father Neil Manipulator on the site GoFundMe, expressed his immense gratitude to the rescuers he identified only as Dave, Charlie, Kenny, Corey, Cesar and Alex.

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The partial collapse of the luxury resort in the town of Surfside, which occurred at dawn on June 24, caused at least 97 dead, according to the latest report published this Thursday by local authorities.

Eight people are still missing, according to the official count.

What her father said

Neil Handler opened an account with GoFundMe, a platform to raise funds, to get financial help for your child for “medical bills, mental health, future education and dreams”.

“Jonah was the first and possibly the only survivor Miami Champlain Tower South condominium collapse. As if this traumatic event was not enough for a young teenager to recover, he will also mourn the loss of his mother Stacie Fang on the journey to healing and dealing with this trauma, ”he said. .

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Jonas’ father also highlighted the work of the rescuers who saved his son. “The first time we saw these unnamed heroes was on the news as they pulled my son out of the rubble. Now, with the grace of God, we share gratitude and hope side by side, ”he said.

Jonah plays baseball and is a 10th grade student at Monsignor Edward Pace High School. He lived in the collapsed apartment building with his 54-year-old mother in one of the apartments in the partially collapsed 12-story tower in Surfisde.

The teenager’s father thanked all the rescuers who were involved in the search for the victims, including “Dave, Charlie, Kenny, Corey, Cesar and Alex”.

“Jonah is recovering from his physical injuries, but as we all know it’s a long way to go without his mother Stacie in our lives, ”he said.

Neil Handler expressed his gratitude “for these men and women who allowed God to use them as his hands to save Jonah. We are also overwhelmed by all those who have supported us with gifts, food, clothing and care (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual) during this unimaginable period of their life and ours, ”he said. he writes on the site. GoFundMe.

The newspaper The Miami Herald, in turn, recalled that Jonah was also rescued by a passerby passing by the collapsed building near Miami Beach.

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It is Nicolas balboa, who was walking his dog when the tower fell. As stated at WPLG-ABC10 he heard Jonah’s screams and saw the teenager’s hand come out of the rubble.

“There was a bed frame and a mattress on it, so I could only assume it was his bed, judging by the size of the mattress,” he said.