SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Sioux Falls Fire Chief Jim Sideras has confirmed that one person died in Friday's collapse of the Copper Lounge building.
The body of Ethan McMahon was recovered from the rubble just before 6 on Friday night, roughly 7 hours after the building came down unexpectedly, and about 4 hours after one survivor was pulled from the pile. She was identified as Emily Fodness.
The parents of the 22 year old woman were at the scene to greet their daughter who survived almost three hours buried in the concrete, cinder block, air conditioning units and timber.
Rescuers were in contact with Fodness shortly after arriving at the scene. With hands and five gallon buckets, Sioux Falls Fire Rescue scratched away at the wreckage. She emerged from the debris wearing only a t-shirt.
She was taken away on a stretcher to a hospital for treatment. Avera McKennan Hospital officials confirm Fodness is in good condition. City Emergency Manager Regan Smith says the woman suffered some injuries to her legs.
Her family has released a statement to the public which in part reads "We would like to thank everyone for the thoughts and prayers for our daughter, Emily, and our family. We are thankful Emily is in good condition and ask for privacy at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with the other individual affected in this accident and their family..."
As for McMahon, he was a construction worker in the building, which is being remodeled to become a Lewis Drug store. His brother, John McMahon was also in the building at the time of the collapse however he was able to escape. Their mother posted a message to Facebook confirming to family and friends that her sons were in the building.
The exact cause of the collapse remains unclear. City permits chief Ron Bell has confirmed that the contractor in charge of the remodel did not have the required paperwork in to begin destruction of any load-bearing walls, however did have permits to make some cosmetic changes in the building.
City records show the building at 10th and Phillips was close to 100 years old, and has served as several different dry goods and retail stores and a bar over the years.
(KELO Radio's Rick Williams, Mark Russo, and Mike Leischner contributed to this report.)