Security Guard Found Alive After Over a Week in Rubble
Rescue operations are underway in Venezuela for Hernán Gil, a security guard who survived twin earthquakes eight days ago. Emergency teams located Mr. Gil on Saturday beneath the debris of a multi-story car park in Catia La Mar. Despite being buried under nine meters of unstable rubble, rescuers have been able to establish visual contact and report that the man, in his 40s, is in good spirits and actively cheering on the efforts to free him.
Intense Rescue Efforts Under Challenging Conditions
Approximately 350 rescuers from seven different countries, including Venezuela, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Portugal, and the United States, have been working continuously since Mr. Gil was located. The precarious nature of the site has led to parts of access tunnels collapsing multiple times, highlighting the risks involved for both the survivor and the rescue personnel. The earthquakes, which occurred on June 24, have claimed nearly 2,300 lives, with tens of thousands still unaccounted for.
Visual Contact and Communication Established
Overnight, search teams successfully made visual contact with Mr. Gil. Footage captured by a small camera inserted into the rubble shows him wearing a face mask and goggles, provided by rescuers through a small opening to protect him from dust and debris. A Chilean firefighter was heard instructing Mr. Gil to turn his head towards the camera, confirming his responsiveness.
Survivor's Resilience Amidst Adversity
Ricardo Arias of the Costa Rican Red Cross confirmed that Mr. Gil is in a stable condition, having received water and an intravenous drip. Mr. Arias noted that Mr. Gil appears to have miraculously escaped serious injury when the shopping center collapsed, reportedly stating he doesn't even have a 'crushed nail.' Marco Antonio Franco of the Mexican Red Cross described Mr. Gil as 'a cheerful man' who even requested specific flavors of hydration drinks. Mr. Franco added that Mr. Gil actively motivates the rescue teams, recognizing individual members and expressing gratitude.
The Moment of Discovery and Ongoing Challenges
Mr. Gil was first located on Saturday. Wagner Leiva, Head of Emergency Response for the Costa Rican Red Cross, recounted the discovery: "We were removing and cutting some slabs when we were told that it seemed there was someone alive (...). We went down to the basement, and one of our colleagues, after calling out and listening, detected that someone was indeed answering."
Mr. Gil was on duty in a concrete booth in the basement of the parking lot when the quakes struck. It is believed that this booth created a protective shell, shielding him from an estimated 140 tonnes of collapsed rubble. Mr. Leiva emphasized the slow and careful pace of the rescue due to the unstable environment. Rescuers hope to extricate Mr. Gil within the next 24 hours.
Source: Original Article
