Cancer patient dealing with family crisis in Philadelphia rowhome collapse

A person with cancer, who also has children with serious health problems, is one of the people who had to leave their home after a row home partially collapsed in Philadelphia’s Spring Garden section on Wednesday morning.

The incident occurred at approximately 7:15 a.m. at a two-story row home located on the 700 block of North 16th Street. As a safety measure, the people living nearby were asked to leave the building after it collapsed.

Action News interviewed a resident who expressed that this incident is very challenging to understand and accept. He says he is having a hard time and things don’t seem to be going well for him.

“I lost my house, and I’m really struggling,” said Tyrone Mack from Spring Garden. Mack says that things have been difficult for him recently.

“I have a 9-year-old son who has leukemia, and an 11-year-old daughter who just had her third open heart surgery. All I’m trying to do is survive and make it through this difficult situation. It’s really unbelievable,” he said. “I’m really surprised by how much bad luck I’ve been experiencing in my life while I’m just trying to support my family.”

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The patient, who has stage four colon cancer, explains that he was heading home from the doctor’s on Tuesday night when his wife called him.

“She said, ‘I hear a really loud noise and the entire house is shaking.’ Mack remembered that there was a sudden big crack in the side of his house, and people were trying to fix it. He discovered that part of his home had collapsed on Wednesday morning.

“They’re saying you’re not allowed to enter. We left last night and my children’s school clothes are still inside.” I have three generations living in this house. I don’t mind how much money they offer me, I am unable to retrieve the pictures of my great grandfather that I can share with my daughter and say, “Hey, this is your grandfather.” Some things are extremely valuable. The cats are inside. “I’m not sure what to expect,” Mack said.

Officials have not yet explained what caused the partial collapse. Currently, there have been no reports of any injuries. The city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections has issued a response to the partial collapse.

“The property located at 729 N. 16th Street is imminently dangerous following a partial collapse. The Department of Licenses and Inspection performed an emergency demolition of the property today. The family has been moved to a new location. There were no injuries when the collapse happened.