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Woman rescued after 36 hours in rubble dies in Colombia; organs failed

Woman rescued after 36 hours in rubble dies in Colombia; organs failed

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Daniela Andrea Largo Sánchez, a 32-year-old lawyer rescued after 36 hours under hotel debris in Pereira, Colombia, has died.
  • Doctors warned her heart functioned at only 20%, with multiple organs failing and severe gangrene in an arm.
  • Her father described her fight for survival, noting she suffered cardiac arrest shortly after rescue and remained in critical condition.

Daniela Andrea Largo Sánchez, a 32-year-old lawyer who became a symbol of hope after surviving for over 36 hours trapped under the rubble of a hotel in Pereira, Colombia, has died. Her passing came after three days of intensive care following her dramatic rescue.

Doctor, I need to live because God has great things for me.

— Daniela Andrea Largo SánchezSaid by the survivor shortly after being rescued, expressing her will to live.

Doctors had warned that Largo Sánchez's condition was dire. Her heart was functioning at only 20% capacity, and she suffered from progressive failure in vital organs such as her lungs, kidneys, and liver. Gangrene had also set in on one of her arms, a consequence of the prolonged compression from the debris. Her brain function was reportedly reduced to 20%, leaving her unconscious and sedated.

Her father, Julio César, recounted the critical moments after her rescue, stating that medical staff had indicated only a miracle could save her. Shortly after being pulled from the debris around 12:30 a.m. on August 11, Largo Sánchez experienced cardiac arrest and required 17 minutes of resuscitation. She was immediately transported to a hospital and placed in the intensive care unit.

He didn't give me hope, he told me a miracle had to happen. Her heart is compromised, functioning at 20%; she has high blood pressure problems, a compromised lung and gangrene attacking her arm. That retained blood circulated and caused damage to her brain, heart, kidneys, and liver.

— Julio César (father)Describing his daughter's critical condition and the medical prognosis after her rescue.

Largo Sánchez's son had been awaiting her recovery to celebrate his birthday. The irreversible damage caused by the earthquake on August 10 ultimately proved too much for her body to overcome. The lawyer's survival under the collapsed hotel had captured national attention, making her eventual death a profound loss.

She went into crisis, very bad, due to dehydration she had a cardiac arrest.

— Julio César (father)Explaining the immediate post-rescue complications.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.