Man Rescued Alive 8 Days After Major Earthquakes in Venezuela

In a remarkable display of human resilience and international cooperation, a 43-year-old man, Hernan Gil, has been rescued alive from a collapsed building in Venezuela, eight days after the nation was devastated by twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude.

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When we found him, he asked us not to tell his wife that he was alive, just in case he wouldn't make it.

Gil was trapped in his security booth when a section of the seven-story building in Catia La Mar collapsed during the seismic events. He managed to survive by sheltering under a table and chair, a feat made possible by the efforts of an international rescue team. Rescuers provided him with water via a hose and supplied oxygen through a tube inserted into the rubble, measures that were critical for his survival beyond the typical 48- to 72-hour window for earthquake survivors.

"When we found him, he asked us not to tell his wife that he was alive, just in case he wouldn't make it," said Minyar Collado, a Costa Rican rescuer. "But, we were never going to leave him there." Gil's wife, Gusbimar Gonzalez, expressed immense surprise and gratitude, calling the rescue a "miracle" and noting the unprecedented global collaboration for a single life.

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But, we were never going to leave him there.

The complex rescue operation involved teams from Venezuela, Chile, the United States, Portugal, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Mexico, who worked tirelessly for three days to reach Gil. Cristian Vera, the leader of the Chilean rescue team, described the structure as "rather complicated to access," emphasizing the difficulty of the task.

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I am completely surprised. It's the first time I've seen so many countries come together like this for a single cause, to save one person. This is truly a miracle.

Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez praised the rescue as a testament to "the greatness of humanity when it is united for a single purpose: to save another." This positive news comes as Venezuela grapples with the aftermath of the earthquakes, which have claimed at least 2,295 lives and injured over 11,000 others, while the government faces criticism for its response.

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This is a rather complicated structure to access. It wasn't easy to reach the exact spot where the victim was located.