A firefighter is devastated after recovering the remains of his own daughter at the crash rubble in Miami.
The first responder reportedly assisted in the search-and-rescue operations at the site of a collapsed condo building.
The girl, who was identified by family members as Stella Cattarossi, 7, was pulled from the rubble in Surfside, Local 10 reported.
A witness has said that the heartbroken father wrapped his little girl’s body in his jacket and placed a tiny American flag on the wagon where Stella was being carried out.
The girl’s father, her uncle, and other rescuers who helped recover her remains then escorted Stella’s body through a group of first rescuers lined up on the roadway.
Meanwhile, four other members of Stella’s family remain missing. Her mother, Graciela Cattarossi, her grandparents Gino and Graciela Cattarossi, and her aunt, Andrea.
According to a GoFundMe page set up by family members, Graciela had been living with her parents at the Chamberlain Towers South ever since she was born. While Andrea had been visiting from Argentina at the time of the deadly collapse.
Miami Fire Rescue Chief Joseph Zahralban later confirmed the body of a seven-year-old girl was recovered during the search and rescue, adding that she was the daughter of a first responder.
“Our hearts and prayers are with the families affected by this horrific tragedy,” Zahralban said. “We can confirm that a member of our City of Miami Fire Department family has lost his seven-year-old daughter in the collapse.”
“She was recovered last night by members of our Urban Search and Rescue Team, Florida Task Force 2,” Zahralban continued. “We ask that you respect the privacy of the immediate family as well as our Fire Department family while we grieve our loss and support our own.”
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said that Stella was one of two victims found at the site on Thursday, bringing the casualty up to 22.
At the time of this writing, 126 people are still missing.