Girl found alive after fifteen days beneath rubble in Haiti
January 28, 2010
Even though it is rare for someone to survive much more than seventy-two hours without water a girl has been rescued from the rubble in Haiti fifteen days after the devastating earthquake destroyed the city of Port-au-Prince. Seventeen-year-old Darlene Etienne seems to have survived in a small pocket in amongst the concrete of her collapsed school. Although desperately dehydrated and apparently suffering from an injury to her leg Darlene was conscious and even managed to thank her rescuers. Rescue team leader, Commander Samuel Bernes said that she was extremely weak and said that it was likely she had been trapped after the initial earthquake struck. Members of her family said that she had been studying when the disaster happened and that they thought she had perished.
Neighbours of the college where Darlene was studying alerted the authorities after they heard a voice coming from beneath the rubble. A search and rescue team then followed the sound of her voice and located her because a bit of her hair was visible. Claude Fuilla, one of the rescue team managed to clear some of the rubble, confirm that Darlene was alive and get water and oxygen to her. After forty-five minutes of digging the team pulled her free covered in dust, slightly shocked and crying, but evidently happy.
This latest life saved in Haiti is a testament to rescue teams refusing to give up hope. Recently a man was pulled from the rubble after twelve days. He had apparently managed to survive beneath a collapsed hotel on a diet of snacks and beer.
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