On Monday, Hialeah police shared dramatic footage from body cameras showing the recent rescue of an elderly Cuban man from a blazing apartment building. The video captures officers and emergency responders bravely entering the charred residence to save the senior citizen, later performing CPR on him in the hallway outside the apartment. After stabilizing him, they carried him downstairs and transported him to a medical facility.
The fire, which erupted on Saturday, led to the rescue of four individuals and a dog from an apartment on the third floor of a building located at 460 East 23rd Street in Hialeah. Gustavo Azoy, who identified himself to Telemundo 51 as the son of the elderly couple involved, explained that his mother, Silvia, managed to escape in time. Unfortunately, his father, Andrés, was trapped until the courageous rescue.
Both parents are currently receiving care at Jackson Memorial Hospital. As of yesterday, Silvia was in stable condition, but Andrés's health was severely compromised due to smoke inhalation. The identities of the other two hospitalized individuals have not been disclosed.
Azoy mentioned that a malfunction in a portable air conditioner, which was being used because the central air system was broken, might have sparked the fire. However, the exact cause is still under investigation by authorities.
Aftermath and Community Impact
The apartment was completely destroyed and has been deemed unsafe by officials. The family now faces the daunting challenge of displacement and is seeking assistance to cover medical expenses for their elders and their pet. Residents of the building recounted the terrifying moments when they realized the building was ablaze. Due to high levels of carbon dioxide, police evacuated the entire building, affecting even those in the adjacent property.