This archive report was first published on 15 September 2019.
On Saturday night, a weekend getaway at the Jersey Shore turned into a chaotic scene when two decks on a three-story rental home collapsed in Wildwood, New Jersey.
At least 21 people were injured in the incident, including an unspecified number of firefighters who were in town for the annual New Jersey Firemen's Convention.
Two of the victims were rushed to the hospital with severe injuries, with one airlifted by helicopter and the other scheduled to be transferred by ambulance to a nearby hospital, according to Susan Staeger, a spokeswoman for Cape Regional Health System.
Despite the severity of the incident, 19 patients were treated at the hospital and discharged, with three of them being children, according to Ms. Staeger.
Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. confirmed that firefighters were among those injured, but did not provide further details on the extent of their injuries.
The incident occurred at approximately 6 p.m., just two blocks away from a popular boardwalk, leaving a trail of debris and destruction in its wake.
Local residents described the scene as 'horrible', with eyewitnesses sharing photos of the mangled wreckage.
