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Son rescues father and brothers from Venezuela earthquake rubble

From Al Jazeera · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • A son rescued his father and two younger brothers from earthquake rubble in Venezuela.
  • The rescue took over 20 hours, requiring specialized equipment and help from firefighting teams.
  • The father expressed deep gratitude for being reunited with his children after the traumatic experience.

Jesus did not believe it was possible, but then he heard his father shouting from the rubble: "Don't leave me here."

Don't leave me here.

— JoseShouting from the rubble after the earthquake.

"I said, ‘Trust me: Stay calm. Keep the kids calm over there. I’m not leaving here without you,'" Jesus recalled. His father, Jose, had been trapped for over an hour, unsure of his fate. Jose and his two younger sons survived the collapse with minor injuries, but the debris could still shift and crush them.

Jose recalled thinking of his children, one of whom was partially buried. He tried to remain brave for his boys. A friendly voice pierced the rubble: Jesus's friend, a firefighter who had arrived shouting for survivors and bringing Jesus's old firefighting equipment.

I said, ‘Trust me: Stay calm. Keep the kids calm over there. I’m not leaving here without you.'

— JesusReassuring his trapped father.

After learning his father and brothers were alive, Jesus desperately tried to free them. He realized he would have to wait until morning for a jackhammer to break through the rubble. The next morning, a specialist police squad arrived with the necessary gear. With help from his firefighting team from La Guaira, Jesus pulled his father and two younger brothers from the rubble around 3:30 p.m. on June 25, more than 20 hours after the earthquakes.

The first thing I thought of was my children. I had the little one right here. And I still had the other one. He was right next to me but buried. I couldn't see his face; I could only see one foot and one hand.

— JoseRecalling his thoughts while trapped in the rubble.

Jesus quickly embraced Diego and Santiago. "When I saw them, I hugged them, gave them a kiss, and said, ‘I love you, brother,'" Jesus recalled. "Then I stepped away for a moment and started crying.” Jose remains shaken, stating, “I am someone who will be grateful for the rest of my life that I was given this opportunity. Not just me, but my two young children.”

When I saw them, I hugged them, gave them a kiss, and said, ‘I love you, brother.' Then I stepped away for a moment and started crying.

— JesusDescribing his emotional reaction after rescuing his father and brothers.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Al Jazeera in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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