Rescuers pulled a 43-year-old security guard alive from a collapsed basement on Thursday, concluding a week-long operation that became a symbol of hope following the devastation of twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela eight days prior. Hernán Alberto Gil Flores was extracted safely after being trapped since June 24 beneath the rubble in the basement of the Galerías Playa Grande shopping center in the coastal town of La Guaira.
Gil Flores, who worked the night shift at the complex, was inside his security cabin when the first tremor struck. His workstation held ground as the surrounding concrete structure collapsed, creating a pocket of air that shielded him from the debris. Rescuers initially made contact with him over the weekend.
"When we found him, he asked us not to tell his wife that he was alive, just in case he wouldn’t make it," said Costa Rican Red Cross rescuer Minyar Collado. A specialized team from the Costa Rican Red Cross first detected signs of life and established contact with Gil Flores on Sunday.
His wife, Gusbimar González, described days of despair before contact was made, stating, "when I learned he was alive, I saw a ray of light in the darkness." The couple has two children, aged 8 and 10.
The rescue operation was coordinated by an urban search and rescue team of Chilean firefighters, who worked alongside specialized teams from the United States, Portugal, and Mexico.