Miracle in Venezuela: Man Pulled Alive from the Rubble 8 Days After Earthquake

A man has been pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Venezuela, eight days after he was trapped by the two powerful earthquakes that struck the country on June 24.

Hernan Gil was rescued after a long and highly complicated operation, after emergency teams managed to locate him beneath around 140 tons of debris.

Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, visited Gil in hospital and described him as a “living miracle,” while also posting a video of the meeting on social media.

According to the latest toll, at least 2,595 people have died in the earthquakes, while tens of thousands of others are still reported missing.

The operation to extract Gil was described by a Chilean firefighter as “among the most complex and technically difficult” he has ever faced.

During the days he remained trapped, rescue teams provided him with water, administered intravenous fluids, and sent him a protective mask and goggles to shield him from the dust as they worked to free him.

The operation became even more difficult after some of the tunnels created to reach Gil collapsed several times, endangering both his life and the lives of the rescuers.

A member of the Mexican Red Cross, Marco Antonio Franco, described Gil as a man in good spirits, saying he spoke constantly with the rescue teams, asked about his family, and even requested hydration drinks in his favorite flavors.