Pregnant woman pulled alive from Brooklyn building rubble as husband breaks down in tears

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: A husband was overcome with emotion after learning that his six-month-pregnant wife had been rescued alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Brooklyn on Wednesday, November 11. The three-story structure collapsed just after 4 pm, leaving two people dead and at least 17 others injured.

The man had been desperately searching for his wife as rescue teams worked through the debris. His reaction was captured after he finally received the news that she had survived.

Husband breaks down after pregnant wife is pulled from rubble

The unidentified man was seen embracing New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams as he broke down in tears following the rescue.

"I have an update. She is alive, she is still alive. I am very happy," he told ABC News.

According to the outlet, he had rushed down Flatbush Avenue after hearing about the collapse and tried to get past emergency responders to reach his wife. As the rescue operation continued, he repeatedly asked for information about her.

"I've heard nothing. She's inside the building. She's pregnant," he told reporters and police.

His wait finally ended around 6.30 pm, when he learned that his wife had been pulled from beneath the debris. Drone footage showed the woman being carried out on a stretcher with a blue blanket covering her stomach. She was then taken to a hospital by ambulance.

"I'm very happy. I want to thank all of you guys," he said after learning she was alive.

Brooklyn building collapse leaves two dead and 17 injured

The rescue brought some relief on an otherwise tragic day. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed that two people had died in the collapse, while at least 17 others were injured. Those hurt included seven children and a firefighter.

More than 250 firefighters and emergency personnel responded to the scene, working through dangerous conditions to reach people trapped beneath the rubble. Rescue teams used dogs to search for survivors, while firefighters were also seen removing debris by hand.

Mamdani described the incident as "devastating" and said the operation had been particularly challenging because of unstable wreckage and dangerous spaces beneath the debris.

FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said multiple people from both the residential building and the construction site had been trapped.

Construction site violation raises questions about Brooklyn collapse

The three-story mixed-use building had apartments above a ground-floor business and stood next to a vacant lot where another building had been demolished for a construction project.

According to city records, a demolition contractor had received a violation in April after inspectors found that demolition work had continued despite a city order to stop it. The violation was later listed as resolved, but the records did not explain why the original stop-work order had been issued.

New York State Representative Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn told NY1 that the vacant lot had previously housed a senior adult day care facility. Plans had reportedly been in place to build affordable housing there.

"We don't know the details in terms of why the building collapsed, but all I know is it's probably been neglected," she said.

The cause of the collapse remains under investigation, and officials have not confirmed what led to the structure coming down.