An ordinary ride turned into a nightmare for three adults and a little girl when they became trapped in an elevator descending to the garage of Vendome Place, situated at the intersection of 43rd Street and Collins Avenue in Miami Beach. Torrential rain pounded the city, causing a rapid flood that transformed the elevator into a perilous water trap, threatening to end in disaster. Surveillance cameras captured the terrifying moment when water began to seep under the elevator door.
"Today is not my day to die," thought Rick Sardana, a seven-year resident of the building, who found himself in the midst of this dramatic event. He was heading to the garage to move his sports car, concerned about the heavy rainfall hitting South Florida. Accompanying him were his neighbor, Bruno Barros, Barros' four-year-old daughter Giordana, and another neighbor. The elevator shook violently before coming to a halt, allowing water to start rushing in at an alarming rate.
"The elevator stopped, and water started pouring in from below and above. All I could think about was my wife and daughters upstairs, unaware of what was happening. I said to myself, 'Today is not my day to die,' and forced the door open," Sardana recounted, visibly emotional as he spoke to local media. "Somehow I got my fingers into the elevator, it took a couple of tries, but by some miracle, we managed to open the door," he added.
Heroic Rescue and Narrow Escape
For Bruno Barros, his only focus was on keeping his daughter safe. "I just thought about my daughter. I had to keep her calm. In my mind, I accepted it could be the end. But Rick was a hero. When he opened the door, it was like being born again," Barros stated with emotion. "We heard a loud noise, the elevator shook, and water began flooding in. We spent 20 seconds in shock," he recalled.
During those tense moments, Rick Sardana became a crucial figure. "She (my daughter) said I was her superhero, but Rick was our superhero. God gave him so much strength at that moment," Barros noted. Both men managed to escape the elevator, carrying the child through water that had risen to waist level. Despite the total loss of Sardana’s sports car, the most important outcome was that everyone emerged unharmed.
Lessons Learned and Calls for Action
The material damage from the incident was significant: over 40 vehicles were rendered unusable in the condo's garage. It took about 24 hours for the water to fully drain. However, the experience left a profound impact on those who lived through it. Since the incident, Rick Sardana avoids using the building's elevator, despite living on the tenth floor. The rapid rise of water astonished everyone; according to Sardana, a building employee mentioned it took only eight minutes for the area to go from completely dry to waist-deep in water.
Although the building's management has yet to make an official statement about the incident, witnesses reported seeing elevator company technicians inspecting the site and leaving with an approving thumbs-up. Meanwhile, residents are calling for urgent and effective measures, emphasizing the need for emergency protocols to handle extreme situations like this.
"Never take the elevator during floods or fires; that's my biggest lesson," Sardana concluded.
Emergency Protocols and Safety Tips for Flood Situations
What should you do if you're trapped in a flooding elevator?
If trapped in a flooding elevator, try to remain calm. Attempt to open the doors if safe, and call for help using a phone or emergency button. Avoid using elevators during known flood conditions to prevent such situations.
Why is it dangerous to use elevators during floods?
Using elevators during floods is dangerous because water can cause electrical malfunctions and potentially trap passengers, leading to life-threatening situations.
What measures can buildings take to prevent elevator flooding?
Buildings can install water detection systems, create sealed elevator shafts, and establish emergency protocols to shut down elevators during flood warnings to prevent such incidents.