JANUARY 27, 2010

Yesterday a sixteen-year-old girl was extracted from the rubble of a college in Port-au-Prince sixteen days after the massive earthquake flattened vast swathes of the city. I was on the wrong side of town when the call came in and when I arrived at the site she was safely inside an ambulance surrounded by a cheering crowd elated by hope.

A property on Pescaye Street in Port au Prince. The street was badly damaged by the earthquake. Click image to enlarge (Ben Gurr/The Times)

It was late by this point approaching midnight in the UK and I was well aware of the time constraints. I went to the nearest hospital but no one was aware of the rescue. Returning to base, Pierre, our translator took a call on his mobile and was tipped off that she may have been taken to the French Hospital which is near our lodgings. She had been rescued by a French team so this seemed likely.

Destroyed properties on Pescaye Street in Port au Prince Click image to enlarge (Ben Gurr/The Times)

The Hospital staff confirmed she was there alive and stable and would be taken by helicopter to a hospital ship moored off shore and during the transfer we may get a glimpse. The picture desk in London sent a text message keen to see a photograph. After a short tense wait there she was, carefully carried by emergency staff, wrapped in a metalic space blanket, eyes open staring into space, several drips providing much needed fluids.

Darline, 16, a Haitian girl who was rescued on January 28 from the rubble Click image to enlarge (Ben Gurr/The Times)

I knew I had a picture, phoned London to confirm then rushed back to base to transmit the image to the office it was very late and I did not think the picture would have made the paper. This morning I saw the newspaper, my image made the last edition.

A photograph in the rubble outside a property on Pescaye Street Click image to enlarge (Ben Gurr/The Times)

It appears she may have survived by drinking Coca-Cola but she also must have an immense will to live. Trapped unseen, alone in the darkness, hearing but not heard, in an unimaginable hell.

One day old Ormela, the daughter of Sabine and Jabowin Dasney, in a temporary camp in Port-au-Prince. Many new mothers have endured unusual pregnancies and births over the past two weeks since the earthquake ravaged the area Click image to enlarge (Ben Gurr/The Times)

My photograph will not be seen by most Hatians but hopefully the massed media in Port Au Prince will have helped spread the word of this miracle and at the same time inject a large dose of hope into the community. The people of Haiti are deeply religious and the earthquake, death and survival are all acts of God. The rescue of Daline Etienne, the name of this teenager, gives these desperate people something to hold on to

Hand written signs have been hung or painted around Port au Prince alerting the numerous relief agencies of the location of needy people Click image to enlarge (Ben Gurr/The Times)