A British woman is being hailed as a hero after she died shielding her daughter from a collapsing building during the earthquake that struck Venezuela on Wednesday. The 7.3 magnitude tremor, which had its epicentre near the coastal city of Cumaná, has killed at least 15 people and injured dozens more.
The woman, identified as 38-year-old Sarah Jenkins from Bristol, was visiting the country with her 10-year-old daughter, Lily. Witnesses said that when the building began to shake, Jenkins grabbed her daughter and threw herself over her as debris fell. Rescue workers recovered Lily alive from the rubble, but Jenkins succumbed to her injuries.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly expressed his condolences, saying: 'I am deeply saddened to hear of the tragic death of Sarah Jenkins in Venezuela. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this devastating time.'
The earthquake, one of the strongest to hit Venezuela in decades, caused widespread damage to infrastructure, including hospitals and schools. The Venezuelan government has declared a state of emergency in the affected regions, and international aid has been mobilised.
Jenkins' actions have drawn comparisons to similar acts of maternal sacrifice in natural disasters. Dr. Elena Martinez, a psychologist specialising in trauma at the University of Caracas, said: 'In moments of extreme danger, a parent's instinct to protect their child can lead to extraordinary acts of courage. This is a tragic but powerful example of that instinct.'
Lily Jenkins is now being cared for by her father, who flew to Venezuela on Thursday. The British Embassy in Caracas is providing consular assistance to the family.
