Hernán Alberto Gil, a 43-year-old security guard, was rescued from the rubble of the Galerías Playa Grande shopping center in La Guaira, Venezuela, on July 2, following a multi-day international search and rescue operation. Gil survived for nearly eight days trapped under nine meters of debris after earthquakes struck the region on June 24, according to reports.
How International Rescue Teams Located the Survivor
The rescue operation involved specialized teams from seven countries, including the United States, Chile, Portugal, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, and Venezuela. According to Cristian Vera, leader of the USAR Bomberos de Chile, the structural complexity of the collapsed building made reaching the victim difficult. Rescuers utilized probes and flexible hoses to provide Gil with 10.5 liters of water and oxygen during the final stages of the operation.
To reach the security booth where Gil was trapped, responders built a three-meter tunnel while simultaneously shoring up the unstable seven-story structure with wood and iron supports. The effort moved through two distinct routes to navigate the heavy concrete pillars.
What Factors Led to Gil’s Survival?
Gusbimar González, Gil’s wife, stated that her husband survived because he managed to take cover under a table and chair when the initial tremors hit. This positioning prevented him from sustaining significant physical trauma during the building’s collapse. The security booth itself shifted position during the quake, which created a space between the walls that kept him from being crushed.
Did you know? Rescuers relied on a combination of structural shoring and tunneling to extract the survivor.
Government Response and Current Status
Delcy Rodríguez visited Gil at a clinic on July 2, following his transfer from the site in Catia La Mar to a medical facility in Caracas, located approximately 40 kilometers away. The rescue has been characterized as a miracle in the aftermath of the June 24 seismic events, which have resulted in an estimated 2,300 deaths across the coastal state of La Guaira.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long was Hernán Alberto Gil trapped? Gil remained under the debris for nearly eight days, from the June 24 earthquakes until his rescue on July 2.
- Which countries participated in the rescue? The mission included personnel from Venezuela, the United States, Chile, Portugal, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Mexico.
- Was Gil injured during the collapse? According to his wife, Gusbimar González, Gil did not suffer trauma or physical injuries because he was able to shelter beneath a table and chair.
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