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A person who claimed he rescued 12 people from a collapsed nightclub within the Dominican Republic has been arrested over faking the story.
The collapse at Jet Set in town’s capital Santo Domingo killed 231 people and injured not less than 200 last Tuesday.
Rafael Rosario, 32, went on a paid media tour to discuss how he rescued survivors, including a widely known news presenter.
But he was arrested on Tuesday after leaving a live broadcast after he was rumbled.
Dominican Republic’s national police force, Policia Nacional Dominicana, published an apology from Rosario on its page on X.
Rosario said: ‘I’m the guy who’s going viral in those videos of the Jet Set nightclub tragedy. I lied in those videos, I used to be not there. I didn’t rescue those people.
‘To say that the rescue employees, the police that were there, were taking advantage of it, and were selecting who to rescue, that’s not true. It’s a lie.
‘I did it because they paid me, they gave me money to say that I used to be at that place. I apologise to the community, and I apologise to the authorities. Please forgive me for this. I did it because they gave me money as I’m not working in the mean time.
‘I’m simply coming here and asking from the center that you just forgive me for those videos which can be going viral on social media.’
Rosario would also appear with a bandage on his left hand from an injury he claimed was from the collapse – but he was never there.
The wound was attributable to accidental gunshot in February.
He also claimed to have rescued the lifetime of network news presenter Elianta Quinter.
He said: ‘We were removing obstacles, and she or he appeared among the many rubble. Her feet were trapped under a beam. She couldn’t get out. Eventually, she took off her shoes, and we were capable of get her out.’
Elianta fought back tears and replied: ‘Rafael was a miracle from God in my life. Due to him, I’m alive today.
‘I would like to provide you an enormous hug and my everlasting gratitude. You risked your life to avoid wasting mine. I’ll always remember it.’
It just isn’t yet clear what caused the roof to collapse at Jet Set.
In an announcement, the club said: ‘The lack of life leaves us in a state of profound pain and dismay.
‘On this difficult time, our prayers are with each of the affected families. We share their pain as if it were our own because we’re also in mourning.
‘We’re collaborating fully and transparently with the relevant authorities to help the victims and make clear what happened.’
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