Beer and Biscuits Allowed Wismond Exantus to Survive 11 Days Under Haiti Earthquake Rubble
The 24-year-old was trapped under 30 feet of debris that included concrete and wood.
Text Size:
January 26, 2010
Although experts say the window of opportunity to find survivors under the debris caused by the earthquake in Haiti is now closed, miracle stories - such as that of Wismond Exantus - continue to be reported. The man surprised and inspired many when he was pulled out alive almost two weeks after the disaster had struck.
The 24-year-old was trapped under 30 feet of debris that included concrete and wood, according to the Wall Street Journal. Media reports also suggest that his survival may have been due to an air pocket surrounding him, the fact that a nearby building offered shade from the sun as well as cola, beer and cookies he could find within reach, as he had been trapped in a grocery store.
From his bed at a military hospital in Port-au-Prince, Exantus told reporters that although he was hungry, "every night I thought about the revelation that I would survive. It was God who was tucking me away in his arms. It gave me strength," quoted by the Los Angeles Times.
According to safety experts, earthquake preparation should include anchoring heavy objects such as bookcases or cabinets to walls and never placing them above beds. Residents of danger zones should also participate in regular drills.
During an earthquake, it is advisable to crouch under a desk or table, or stand in a stout doorway, away from windows. Outdoors, it is best to stay away from buildings, trees, telephones and electrical lines, and drivers should move away from underpasses and overpasses, stop in a safe area and stay inside the vehicle.
Donations for victims of natural disasters are accepted by the Red Cross and UNICEF.
Although experts say the window of opportunity to find survivors under the debris caused by the earthquake in Haiti is now closed, miracle stories - such as that of Wismond Exantus - continue to be reported. The man surprised and inspired many when he was pulled out alive almost two weeks after the disaster had struck.
The 24-year-old was trapped under 30 feet of debris that included concrete and wood, according to the Wall Street Journal. Media reports also suggest that his survival may have been due to an air pocket surrounding him, the fact that a nearby building offered shade from the sun as well as cola, beer and cookies he could find within reach, as he had been trapped in a grocery store.
From his bed at a military hospital in Port-au-Prince, Exantus told reporters that although he was hungry, "every night I thought about the revelation that I would survive. It was God who was tucking me away in his arms. It gave me strength," quoted by the Los Angeles Times.
According to safety experts, earthquake preparation should include anchoring heavy objects such as bookcases or cabinets to walls and never placing them above beds. Residents of danger zones should also participate in regular drills.
During an earthquake, it is advisable to crouch under a desk or table, or stand in a stout doorway, away from windows. Outdoors, it is best to stay away from buildings, trees, telephones and electrical lines, and drivers should move away from underpasses and overpasses, stop in a safe area and stay inside the vehicle.
Donations for victims of natural disasters are accepted by the Red Cross and UNICEF.
