Venezuelan Mother and Newborn Miraculously Rescued from Earthquake Rubble

Diana Patiño and her 18-day-old son Juan David were rescued from the rubble of their collapsed home in La Guaira, Venezuela, following devastating earthquakes that struck the country on Wednesday. The tremors claimed over 1,450 lives and left tens of thousands missing. Diana told BBC that her newborn gave her the strength to stay awake and alert beneath the debris, saying, "As long as he was alive, I was alive." She checked his breathing repeatedly to ensure he was still alive.

Diana was washing dishes on the eighth floor when the earthquake hit, causing her to fall into a pit under the rubble, trapped with her son. Despite her left leg being pinned under concrete and her throat pressed against a rock, she remained calm, conserving energy to call for help only when she heard nearby voices. She found hope when she felt a Bible beneath her and saw a small light in the darkness.

Her brother eventually heard her cries and led rescuers to her location. The rescue operation on Thursday night was described as a "miracle" by her husband, Grayson, who had just arrived home and escaped to safety during the quake. He feared the worst when he saw their building collapse but was overwhelmed with relief upon seeing his wife and son alive. Diana suffered injuries to both legs, while Juan David sustained only minor wounds.

The family lost their home and belongings, and their pet remains missing, but they are determined to rebuild their lives from scratch. Venezuela's interim president called the disaster the country's "cruelest natural catastrophe" in history, highlighting the scale of the tragedy.

This story of survival has become a symbol of hope amid the widespread devastation caused by the earthquakes in Venezuela.