The 7-year-old daughter of a Miami firefighter who was found in the rubble at the site of the Florida building collapse has been identified as little Stella Cattarossi, according to a report.
The family lived in apartment 501 at Champlain Towers South in Surfside — where the youngster shared a room with her mom — when the building collapsed early on June 24, according to a report by WPLG-TV.
In a heart-wrenching development, the girl’s body was found in the rubble Thursday while her father was among the first-responders conducting a search and rescue operation, according to reports.
“When he was made aware that we were close to where his loved one may have been, then he stood side by side with some of his other fellow firefighters,” Miami Rescue Dapt. Ignatius Carroll told WPLG.
“We were able to bring her and then at least give him an opportunity to say his farewells.”
Stella’s father, who was with his brother at the scene, used his jacket to cover his daughter’s body, placed a small US flag over her, and carried her out of the area, the station said.
The firefighter, who was not identified by name, is a 10-year veteran of the department.
The girl’s mom, Graciela Cattarossi, and her grandparents, Graciela and Gino Cattarossi, where also in the apartment at the time of the collapse, WPLG reported.
The girl’s aunt, Andrea Cattarossi, was visiting from Argentina, the outlet said. None of the youngster’s other family members have yet been found.
Officials said 22 people have now been confirmed dead at the scene, with 126 still missing since the building fell shortly before 1:30 a.m.
Among them were two other children, sisters Emma Guara, 4, and her 11-year-old sister, Lucia Guara, who were pulled from the rubble on Wednesday.
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