Posted on 04/07/2009 9:01:43 PM PDT by Lorianne
L'AQUILA, ITALY - Though trapped by earthquake rubble for nearly two days, Eleonora Calesini was still alive when a powerful aftershock Tuesday night threatened to crush her.
Somehow, a pair of fallen concrete pillars that had created a survival space for the 20-year-old student held. And 90 minutes later, firefighters and police pulled Calesini, in her nightgown, conscious from the wreckage, her rescuers said.
When the aftershock hit, "we feared the worst," police Lt. Antonio Del Boccio told Sky TG24 TV. "We knew Eleonora was alive. And in that moment we thought the world would come crashing down on her again."
She may not have been found had it not been for her father. He rushed to the school from their hometown near Rimini in an effort to find his daughter, who wears a hearing aid. On Tuesday morning, he spotted an armoire that he recognized in the wreckage, said rescuer Police Detective Germano Di Cesare.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Dad to the rescue!
We should all remember in our prayers tonight any survivors still trapped in the ruins. Their time is running out. May the Lord be merciful and spare more lives this night.
Kudos to the rescue teams who are incredibly brave and compassionate!
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