Firefighters save Haiti toddler's life

Pete Stevenson (centre) and his colleagues from the rescue team were able to save three people within 24 hours of landing in Haiti.

Greater Manchester Firefighters, including Pete Stevenson, who is based at Rochdale Fire Station, who are taking part in the UK humanitarian relief effort in Haiti, have rescued a two-year-old toddler from a collapsed building.

Members of the 64-strong fire and rescue party were searching buildings in which people were believed to be trapped in the capital Port-au-Prince when they were able to save young Mia.

Following a lengthy and difficult operation in high temperatures, one of the teams managed to reach Mia who was trapped under piles of rubble under a kindergarten school that had totally collapsed.

Mia, who had been trapped for three days, is now receiving medical treatment.

Operations Commander Stevenson said: “We are all over the moon, Mia is beautiful and the rescue was a huge success."

Mike Thomas, Chief Officer of the Fire and Rescue Team, said: “This is a real boost to us all. This is what we do the job for. The conditions we are working in are pretty dire. The local people have no food and water and are suffering in more ways than one.”

The rescue came on the first full day of the deployment of the team, despatched to Haiti as part of the Department for International Development’s emergency response to the earthquake.

International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said: “This is fantastic news. I know that everyone in Britain will share my pride at the vital and dangerous work being carried out by these brave firefighters in Haiti’s hour of need. They are truly inspirational.”

Over the course of the weekend the team were also able to rescue a 40-year-old woman from a building close to a supermarket. She was suffering from dehydration and had pressure sores. The team had worked for three or fours to get her out from under the rubble.

The team also rescued a 60-year-old man who was in bed at the time of the earthquake and was thrown out of bed and ended up under it, which allowed him to survive the earthquake. Once he had been found by the resue team, it took six or seven hours of tunnelling to reach him. After rehydration by the team doctor he recovered well and only had minor injuries.