Philadelphia man dies after balcony collapses at Sea Isle City, New Jersey condo

Sea Isle City, NJ (WPVI) — An eighth-floor balcony collapsed in Sea Isle City, New Jersey, killing a trapped worker.

The collapse occurred at Block 3600 on the Boardwalk of the Spinnaker South Tower Condominium at approximately 2:20 pm on Friday.

One person was working on the seventh floor when the upper balcony collapsed, officials said. Authorities recovered the man’s body before 10 p.m. Friday night.

The man has been identified as 43-year-old Jose Pereira of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was pronounced dead after recovering at 9:52 pm.

Two other workers were on the eighth floor at the time of the collapse.

Neighbor Joye Fiocchi was nearby when the collapse occurred.

“It’s just this loud and scary clash,” she said.

Then she went out and said she would never forget what she had seen and heard.

“I heard them scream twice and it made me sick. The first time it happened and the last time he stopped screaming.”

Officials believe workers were preparing to paint.

The cause of the collapse was not immediately announced.

Recovery was a delicate and complicated task.

First officials say a team of engineers will have to work from the inside.

Emergency responders cut through about 12 inches of concrete to reach the victim. Through that cut, the concrete slab was lifted using heavy lifting airbags. Pereira was retrieved once the concrete was lifted.

Officials said the condo building has been evacuated for safety and will be inspected further by engineers once all balconies are deemed stable and safe.

The incident is currently being investigated by Sea Isle Police Detectives in collaboration with the Cape May County Attorney’s Office and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).