A newborn baby has been rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building in Caracas, with emergency services crediting a medical protocol developed by the British Royal Family for the successful operation. The infant, hours old, was discovered beneath concrete slabs following a structural failure in the city’s Libertador district on Tuesday night.
The protocol, drafted by the Royal Medical Household in coordination with the UK’s National Health Service, provides guidelines for neonatal triage in disaster zones. It was implemented by a field team from the International Committee of the Red Cross, who arrived at the scene within 45 minutes of the collapse.
Rescue workers used thermal imaging to locate the child, who was trapped in a small air pocket. The baby was stabilised on site using portable incubators and respiratory support, both specified in the protocol. It was then transported to Hospital Universitario de Caracas, where it is listed in critical but stable condition.
A spokesperson for the Royal Family said: “We are relieved that the training and equipment shared with international partners have contributed to this outcome. Our thoughts remain with the people of Venezuela during this difficult time.”
The collapse, which killed at least 12 people and injured 30 others, has been attributed to recent heavy rainfall and substandard construction. Infrastructure experts have warned that dozens of buildings in the city are at risk.
This is the first documented use of the Royal medical protocol in Latin America. The protocol was established in 2018 following a request from the World Health Organization for standardised procedures in natural disaster response. It has been adopted by 23 countries and is regularly updated based on field data.
Critics, however, have questioned the effectiveness of such protocols in regions with limited healthcare infrastructure. Dr. Maria Suarez, a Venezuelan paediatrician, said: “While we are grateful for international support, the root cause of these tragedies is systemic neglect. No protocol can replace safe housing and functioning hospitals.”
The British Embassy in Caracas confirmed that additional medical supplies would be dispatched in the coming days as part of a bilateral aid agreement.
