Miami Beach, FL - A terrifying moment unfolded at a Miami Beach condominium this past weekend when floodwaters surged into an elevator, trapping three residents, including a young child, inside.
The incident occurred at the Vendome Place Condominiums on Collins Avenue following heavy rains that caused widespread street and garage flooding.
Rick Sardana, a resident of the building, had taken the elevator down to check on his vehicle in the lower-level garage when the elevator abruptly stopped.
Also inside were his neighbors—Bruno Barros and his 4-year-old daughter Giordana.
As water began rushing in from both the elevator floor and ceiling, panic set in.
Surveillance video captured the moment the elevator cabin began to fill with murky floodwater.
Sardana described the elevator jolting before freezing in place, then slowly being overtaken by rising water.
In a desperate effort, he managed to wedge his fingers between the elevator doors and force them open, allowing all three to escape into the waist-deep water in the garage.
Barros later called Sardana’s quick thinking and strength “divine intervention,” crediting him for saving his daughter’s life.
The floodwaters took nearly a full day to recede, leaving behind significant damage.
Most of the vehicles in the garage were either waterlogged or completely destroyed. Sardana’s own sports car was among those totaled.
Reflecting on the experience, Sardana said he learned an important lesson: never use an elevator during a flood.
Since the incident, he’s opted for the stairs—no matter how many flights.