16th May 2008

Xie Shou-juuu is an obstetrician from Beichuan's People's Hospital. She was rescued from the ruins of collapsed building by the Hainan rescue team on the afternoon of 15th of May. Despite the fact that her husband was still buried in the debris, she immediately joined the rescue team as a medical staff.

At the rescue site of Beichuan's XinCheng, reporters spotted this bespectacled lady in a dress. On approaching her, they realized that she was one of the fortunate survivors that had just been rescued. After being buried for nearly three days, Xie Shou-juu joined the rescue team without a second thought, to the admiration of everyone at the site.

Xie Shou-juu recounts that when the earthquake struck, she was at home, taking a nap on the couch. All of a sudden, the couch flipped over, trapping her beneath. She knew that rescue teams would soon be on their way, and conserved her energy by not shouting for help. To cope with the lack of water, she grabbed a container and collected her urine, drinking it only when the thirst was unbearable.

On the third day, Xie Shou-juu heard the voices of the rescuers. She frantically knocked the container against the wall,  and finally attracted the attention of the rescue team. They rescued her from the ground floor of the building. As her husband was at a less accessible location, chances of survival are slim. After Xie Shou-juu was pulled free from the debris, she only drank a can of porridge, and immediately joined in the rescue efforts.

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The above story is translated by some volunteers at         

www.sichuan-earthquake.org

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