A man was successfully saved after being stuck for eight days in the debris from a collapsed building caused by two earthquakes in Venezuela.
Rescue workers freed Hernán Gil over 100 hours after discovering him buried under 140 tons of rubble.
A firefighter from Chile characterized the rescue as the most intricate and technically challenging operation he had ever faced.
Nearly 2,300 individuals have been reported dead from the earthquakes in Venezuela on June 24, with many more still unaccounted for.
Hernán Gil was found with an oxygen mask, a neck brace, and covered in an orange blanket on a stretcher after being rescued. Rescuers gradually progressed towards Gil for over 100 hours before finally extracting him.
Allan Madrigal, a paramedic from the Costa Rican Red Cross, shared with reporters that Gil appeared to be in good condition after the ordeal.
Madrigal was the one who heard Gil’s faint calls for help coming from the rubble on Sunday and described it as an emotional moment.
Following this discovery, the rescue team hurried to dig out the security guard.
Despite the collapse of parts of the access tunnels created by rescuers, Gil remained protected within the small concrete booth where he was stationed during the earthquakes.
Before being rescued, Gil received water and was connected to an IV drip by medics from various countries involved in the rescue efforts.
The search teams finally made visual contact with Gil overnight as they worked tirelessly to free him.
During the rescue operation, Gil was instructed to wear protective gear like a face mask and goggles to shield him from the dust and debris.
Marco Antonio Franco from the Mexican Red Cross described Gil as a positive individual who even requested specific flavored drinks during his rescue.
According to Franco, Gil’s upbeat attitude motivated the rescuers and kept them engaged in conversation about his family and the challenging rescue mission.
Madrigal, the paramedic who located Gil, expressed how the experience in Venezuela had a profound impact on him, marking his first international rescue mission.
