An 18-year-old construction worker trapped in the rubble of a building that collapsed during the earthquake in Indonesia escaped after sawing off his own leg.
Ramlan, from Padang, was working on the seventh floor of a building under construction when the quake hit the city on 30 September.
The teenager's leg was crushed beneath a falling concrete girder as he and his colleagues were attempting to flee the building, leaving him trapped and alone.
Ramlan attempted to pull his leg free so he could escape to safety, but found himself trapped. He was able to reach a hoe, and began to hack at his leg, but the blade was too blunt to penetrate the bone.
Fortunately, his mobile phone had survived undamaged, and Ramlan was able to telephone his friend and colleague Eman, who returned to the building to help.
Eman, 53, located a trowel, and handed it to Ramlan, who continued to hack at the crushed limb, but again found he could not penetrate the bone. Eman then found him a saw, and Ramlan began to saw through his leg, but was too weak to continue.
Eman, who lives in the same street as Ramlan and calls him Adik, which translates as "little brother", took over and amputated the leg before winding his T-shirt around the wound and carrying Ramlan to the Yos Sudarso hospital.
Doctors there were able to staunch the bleeding, and performed a more orthodox amputation higher up the limb.
Ramlan was visited in hospital by Caritas, an international partner of the British charity Cafod, a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).
Speaking to Caritas charity worker Tim O'Connor yesterday, Eman said: "I just thought I have to save my friend and I raced back up to where he was. I did not think of the danger, just of the welfare of my friend."
Brendan Gormley from the DEC – made up of 13 UK charities – said Ramlan's bravery was typical of many survivors. "Ramlan's actions were extraordinary and the courage and determination he showed is typical of many survivors with whom we are working."
Charities have been delivering aid to tens of thousands of survivors in and around Padang since the earthquake. Cafod and partner charity Caritas have delivered tarpaulins to villages and aim to assist 27,500 people, while World Vision is distributing 12,000 family emergency kits, including sleeping mats, blankets and soap. The Red Cross has more than 300 volunteers distributing relief items.
Oxfam is providing clean water and shelter in the region, and has sent mobile water treatment plants to Padang, while Christian Aid and Save the Children are supporting thousands of households.
So far 704 people have been confirmed dead in Indonesia and343 missing. An estimated 1,500 people were injured in the quake, 600 of them severely. Search and rescue teams say there are no more survivors in the collapsed buildings.
source:
http://mediaranahjaya.blogspot.com/
http://oddee.com
http://guardian.co.uk
http://tempo.co.id
The teenager's leg was crushed beneath a falling concrete girder as he and his colleagues were attempting to flee the building, leaving him trapped and alone.
Ramlan attempted to pull his leg free so he could escape to safety, but found himself trapped. He was able to reach a hoe, and began to hack at his leg, but the blade was too blunt to penetrate the bone.
Fortunately, his mobile phone had survived undamaged, and Ramlan was able to telephone his friend and colleague Eman, who returned to the building to help.
Eman, 53, located a trowel, and handed it to Ramlan, who continued to hack at the crushed limb, but again found he could not penetrate the bone. Eman then found him a saw, and Ramlan began to saw through his leg, but was too weak to continue.
Eman, who lives in the same street as Ramlan and calls him Adik, which translates as "little brother", took over and amputated the leg before winding his T-shirt around the wound and carrying Ramlan to the Yos Sudarso hospital.
Doctors there were able to staunch the bleeding, and performed a more orthodox amputation higher up the limb.
Ramlan was visited in hospital by Caritas, an international partner of the British charity Cafod, a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).
Speaking to Caritas charity worker Tim O'Connor yesterday, Eman said: "I just thought I have to save my friend and I raced back up to where he was. I did not think of the danger, just of the welfare of my friend."
Brendan Gormley from the DEC – made up of 13 UK charities – said Ramlan's bravery was typical of many survivors. "Ramlan's actions were extraordinary and the courage and determination he showed is typical of many survivors with whom we are working."
Charities have been delivering aid to tens of thousands of survivors in and around Padang since the earthquake. Cafod and partner charity Caritas have delivered tarpaulins to villages and aim to assist 27,500 people, while World Vision is distributing 12,000 family emergency kits, including sleeping mats, blankets and soap. The Red Cross has more than 300 volunteers distributing relief items.
Oxfam is providing clean water and shelter in the region, and has sent mobile water treatment plants to Padang, while Christian Aid and Save the Children are supporting thousands of households.
So far 704 people have been confirmed dead in Indonesia and343 missing. An estimated 1,500 people were injured in the quake, 600 of them severely. Search and rescue teams say there are no more survivors in the collapsed buildings.
source:
http://mediaranahjaya.blogspot.com/
http://oddee.com
http://guardian.co.uk
http://tempo.co.id
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