A team of British search and rescue volunteers, operating under the charity 'Operation Rescue UK', has pulled a newborn infant from the debris of a collapsed apartment block in Caracas. The child, just three days old, was trapped for over 12 hours after a gas explosion tore through the building in the working-class district of Petare. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as neighbours clawed at the concrete with bare hands.
The charity’s team, funded by public donations and a small grant from the Foreign Office, arrived within hours. Using thermal imaging and specialist cutting gear, they freed the baby, who was found wrapped in a blanket, alive and uninjured. Medics at the scene said the infant was suffering from dehydration but is now stable.
The rescue has been hailed by local officials as a testament to international solidarity, though critics note the UK government has slashed foreign aid budgets affecting disaster preparedness. For residents of Petare, where wages average £1.20 an hour, the charity’s work is a rare beacon of hope.
One mother said: ‘They came thousands of miles to save our children. We cannot even afford bread.’ The rescue comes as inflation in Venezuela hits 400%, with milk and formula priced beyond reach for most families.
The charity’s CEO, Sarah Thornton, said: ‘We do not care about politics. We care about the price of life.
