Rescue teams from seven countries scramble to save Hernán Gil, security guard trapped in rubble of collapsed car park in Catia La Mar,Venezuela . Twin earthquakes hit hard on June 24. Eight days in, rescuers finally see Gil, who stays upbeat despite being under nine meters of debris.
Emergency workers have been at it for 100+ hours. Gil,in his 40s,called a miracle by his wife. As they dig through unstable rubble,he's reported stable and communicative. A Chilean firefighter used small camera to see Gil,encouraged him to turn head for visibility. Gil,wearing mask against dust,receives water and IV fluids through small opening .
Ricardo Arias from Costa Rican Red Cross confirmed Gil's condition, saying he miraculously avoided serious injury: "He doesn't even have a crushed nail." Marco Antonio Franco from Mexican Red Cross noted Gil's high spirits,sharing he even asked for specific hydration drink flavors. Franco said, "He himself drives us on,telling us to carry on." They talk about family and rescue efforts .
Rescue efforts risky . Access ducts to Gil collapse often . Risks high for rescuers and Gil. Head of emergency response, Wagner Leiva,recounted first signs of life . After debris cleared,team heard Gil respond. He'd been on duty in small concrete booth when quakes hit .
The booth protected him from 140 tonnes of rubble. Leiva explained rescue must be slow due to instability . Nearly three days in,they managed to give Gil first sip of water. Last night,around 22:00 local time,rescuers made physical contact .
Search continues . About 350 rescuers from Venezuela,Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador,Mexico,Portugal,U.S. on site,aiming to free Gil in 24 hours. Earthquakes' aftermath: nearly 2,300 confirmed dead, tens of thousands missing. Rescue is a rare hope amid chaos…
