Dayana Patino, a mother rescued from the ruins of her home in Venezuela following recent devastating earthquakes, revealed that her 18-day-old son, Juan David, provided the strength she needed to survive. She recounted to the BBC that her primary focus was ensuring her child’s wellbeing, often checking his breathing while trapped beneath concrete in her collapsed apartment in La Guaira.
The earthquakes, which have resulted in at least 1,450 deaths, left Patino buried for hours after she was thrown by the impact while holding her son. Despite being pinned by rubble and suffering leg injuries, she remained calm by saving her energy to scream only when she detected nearby rescue efforts. She eventually felt a bible nearby, which she described as the start of her survival journey.
Her brother eventually heard her cries, leading to a successful extraction on Thursday night. Her husband, Gerson, who had escaped the building just before it collapsed, described the recovery of his family as a miracle. Although they lost their home and belongings, and remain concerned for their missing dog, the family is grateful to be alive and is prepared to start over.
