Rescue Worker Recalls Moment Jean Paul Sofia’s Phone Rang Amidst Rubble of Collapsed Factory

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Rescue Worker Recalls Dramatic Scene and Phone Ringing Amidst Rubble at Collapsed Corradino Factory

A rescue worker has provided gripping testimony in the ongoing trial against the developers and contractors involved in the tragic collapse of the Corradino factory last December. The incident resulted in the death of 20-year-old Jean Paul Sofia and caused grievous injuries to four other workers. The defendants, including developers Matthew Schembri and Kurt Buhagiar, project architect Adriana Zammit, and contractors Milomar and Dijana Jovicevic, have all pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary murder and causing grievous injuries.

During the trial, Civil Protection officer David Cassar recounted the harrowing scene that unfolded when he arrived at the Corradino Industrial Estate shortly after the collapse. Cassar, who was among the first responders from his Xemxija post, described the devastation as a “massive scene” that he had never encountered before.

Cassar and his team immediately began the arduous task of rescuing trapped workers. The first worker they managed to free had his legs trapped in freshly laid concrete, entangled with iron rods. Although conscious, the victim was in immense pain and slightly aggressive. The rescue team calmed him down, successfully extracted him, and placed him on a stretcher. At that point, Cassar was unaware of how many more people were still trapped.

As the rescue efforts continued, the CPD workers painstakingly removed rubble, both manually and with the assistance of machinery. They used specialized equipment to locate the missing person, later identified as Jean Paul Sofia. Finally, amidst the debris, Cassar spotted a pair of legs. In a desperate attempt to confirm the victim’s identity, he dialed Sofia’s mobile number, and miraculously, a phone rang from within the rubble.

Despite the dangerous conditions, Cassar bravely descended a ladder, answering affirmatively when his colleagues asked if he felt comfortable venturing into the treacherous space. Sofia’s body was partially trapped, requiring the rescuers to handle the rubble with utmost care.

Another key witness in the trial was architect Graham Attard, who works at the Civil Protection Department and specializes in collapse cases. Attard testified about his involvement in the rescue operation from start to finish. On the day of the incident, while off-duty, Attard happened to be in Cospicua when he received news of the collapse. He rushed to the site within minutes, becoming one of the first responders and the last to leave.

The initial phase of the rescue operation involved swiftly extracting four workers from the collapsed structure. It was only after their successful rescue that the team learned of Sofia’s disappearance. Utilizing a rescue dog and advanced equipment, they worked to locate him, receiving confirmation through CCTV footage showing Sofia entering the building shortly before it collapsed. Attard noted that Sofia did not carry any equipment, indicating that he was not there to work but for some other purpose.

Rescuers were informed that Sofia likely arrived at the site in a van parked outside the factory. Attard sought the expertise of university professor Alex Torpiano and studied the factory’s plans to navigate the perilous environment and locate the victim. The core of the building, which housed the stairs and lift, remained standing, making it the strongest yet most hazardous part. With a double wall leading to the core and scaffolding against it, Attard decided to leave the scaffolding in place to provide some support.

“We found him just outside the core,” Attard recalled, referring to Sofia. Unfortunately, Sofia had been on his way out when the building collapsed, burying him under three stories of rubble. This was also the reason why his phone had no reception.

Lawyers representing the defendants questioned the discrepancy in the time taken to rescue the other workers compared to Sofia. Attard explained that the other workers were on the upper floor, while Sofia was on the ground floor, ultimately resulting in him being buried beneath the rubble. To reach Sofia, rescuers had to navigate a drop of approximately five meters.

Despite the risks involved, Attard emphasized the importance of reaching Sofia, both for his family’s closure and out of a sense of duty. Civil protection officers faced difficult decisions throughout the rescue operation.

The trial continues, with Inspectors Paul Camilleri and Antonello Magri prosecuting the case. Lawyers Arthur Azzopardi, Franco Debono, and Jacob Magri are representing the developers, while lawyer Stephen Tonna Lowell is counsel to Adriana Zammit. Lawyer Timothy Bartolo is representing the Jovicevic couple.

With these additional details and a focus on SEO-optimized HTML headings, this expanded news article provides a comprehensive account of the rescue operation and the ongoing trial surrounding the Corradino factory collapse..