FDNY Rescue Medics Saved Two People from Crane Collapse

Two FDNY rescue paramedics are being hailed as heroes for saving the lives of two men trapped in the rubble of the crane collapse on March 15.

When specially-trained Paramedics Marco Girao and Juan Henriquez arrived on the scene, firefighters and police told them there were two victims trapped under the rubble at 305 East 50 Street. Paramedics Girao and Henriquez said they then split up, each tending to a victim.

“I was worried we wouldn’t be able to get to them in time,” said Paramedic Girao during a press conference on March 17.

Paramedic Girao rushed to the aid of a male who was buried in debris up to his waist. He was awake and talking, so Paramedic Girao was able to assess his condition as they dug him out brick by brick.

In less than an hour, he said they were able to free the man and transport him to the hospital.

Paramedic Henriquez’s patient also was conscious and talking, but he was buried face-down under about 30 feet of debris.

“We dug a hole and I saw his neck, back and about five fingers,” Paramedic Henriquez said.

He applied an IV to the victim’s jugular vein, but the paramedic still worried about crush syndrome, so he contacted FDNY Dr. Dario Gonzalez to determine a good course of action.

After several painstaking hours, they were able to free the victim from the rubble and transport him to the hospital in stable condition.

“You walk away saying ‘I can’t believe he’s in such good shape,’” said Dr. Gonzalez.

The medics said they hope to visit the patients in the hospital soon, but for now, they are just trying to process everything that happened.

“You train for this, but nothing compares to the real thing,” said Paramedic Henriquez. “You stop thinking and just focus on what you’re doing.”

Paramedic Girao added: “It never hit us that we saved anyone. Afterwards we just looked at each other and said ‘we did a great job.’”