In a chilling account of survival, Julio Cervantes Suarez, the lone survivor of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, shared his harrowing experience of plunging into the dark waters below when a container ship struck the bridge in March. The 37-year-old construction worker, who miraculously made it out alive, spoke to NBC News' Tom Llamas about the terrifying ordeal.

Cervantes Suarez, along with six other construction workers, had been working on the bridge during the early morning hours of March 26. As they were taking a break in their cars, the entire bridge shook violently, causing portions of it to crumble into the Patapsco River. Cervantes Suarez watched in horror as his co-workers went down into the water before his own truck fell from the center of the bridge.

Faced with a desperate fight for survival, Cervantes Suarez found himself trapped in his submerged truck as the water rose. Unable to open the doors, he discovered that the windows were manual and managed to roll them down, enabling him to escape through a window. As he surfaced, he witnessed the destruction of the bridge that had been his workplace moments before.

Heartbroken, Cervantes Suarez called out the names of his co-workers, but there was no response. He knew they were gone. Lacking the ability to swim, he clung to a piece of the bridge lodged in the river and floated until his eventual rescue. Cervantes Suarez was taken to a nearby hospital and discharged the following day, with lingering physical pain and emotional trauma.

While the survivor remains haunted by the memories of the minutes leading up to the collapse and his descent into the water, he believes that perhaps there is still a purpose for his survival. Cervantes Suarez, along with the families of the victims, plans to file a lawsuit against the companies involved with the ship in the coming weeks, seeking justice for the tragedy.

In the aftermath of the devastating incident, Maryland's senators have taken action, advocating for Congress to cover the full $1.7 billion cost to repair the bridge. They testified on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, highlighting that a foreign vessel striking an American bridge and causing the death of American workers should not be absolved of responsibility.

Maryland officials are determined to have the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuilt by 2028. As the investigation continues into the cause of the collapse, the story of Julio Cervantes Suarez serves as a reminder of human resilience in the face of tragedy, while underscoring the pressing need for accountability and the safe reconstruction of vital infrastructure.