Baby born on baseball field during Venezuela's twin earthquakes

Amidst the devastation of twin earthquakes that rocked Venezuela, a newborn baby boy entered the world on a baseball field in La Guaira. The extraordinary birth unfolded on the night of June 24-25, as the 19-year-old mother, Eliana Garcia, was fleeing collapsing structures with her family.

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I felt like I needed to pee. But I pushed and pushed, and when nothing came out, I understood that the baby was coming.

Garcia, 38 weeks pregnant, experienced contractions while seeking refuge in the baseball field. Doctors had previously advised her that a natural birth was unlikely due to her narrow pelvis, with a cesarean section scheduled for a week later. However, the earthquakes accelerated the process, forcing an emergency delivery.

In the chaotic darkness, with no medical facilities available and amidst aftershocks, a paramedic who was searching for her own family members was entreated to help. Using only hand sanitizer for hygiene and illuminated by cell phone lights, the paramedic, along with Garcia's sister-in-law Julia Di Giuseppe and other onlookers, assisted in the delivery. The family had managed to grab only a sheet for Garcia to lie on.

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I begged a paramedic who was searching for her family members in the ruins, and she started helping.

When the baby was born, he did not cry immediately, but the sound of applause from the gathered crowd prompted his first wails. Lacking proper medical tools, the umbilical cord was tied at both ends with hair bands and then cut with nail scissors. The family then managed to transport Garcia and her newborn son to a public hospital, where they received care despite the overwhelming number of earthquake victims.

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people started taking out their hair bands and we tied it at both ends, with a lot of alcohol.