By Jenn Wright
Staff Writer
Science Leadership Academy Senior Jordan McLaughlin stood on the northeast corner of 22nd and Market when the Salvation Army roof caved in alongside the collapse of structures surrounding it.
McLaughlin sprang into action attempting to help people before emergency workers arrived on the scene. He and other bystanders helped to pull people out of the rubble. Before being told by firefighters to leave the scene, McLaughlin personally carried 2 people.
Emergency workers continued to rescue a total of 13 people trapped in the collapse, one woman was killed.
“The building collapsed and dust went everywhere. I took a picture and I ran across and tried to help some people.” He said he didn’t think twice because he “wanted to help people.”
McLaughlin told SLAMedia he had just left school from an early dismissal.
The building next door was under construction, but no report has come out about the official cause of the collapse.
Link to Gallery of photos from the scene on Philly.com
Photos credit to Senior Jordan McLaughlin
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