The darkest 88 hours in the life of six-year-old Chang Ching-hung (
"He's alive! He's alive! It's a miracle!" the team leader exclaimed after working for nine hours to rescue the boy last Sept. 24, a rescue on which the spotlight of the world's media immediately shone.
Chang, suffering from dehydration at the time of the rescue, was the only survivor from his entire immediate family.
"To this day, I still remember vividly the moment we saved him," leader of Korean National 119 Rescue Service Lee Hyun-woo (
"When the slightest signs of life were first detected, I couldn't believe what I heard.I even doubted it. But still we found him, despite the many aftershocks from the quake at the time," Lee said.
"The minute his hand was put into mine what I felt was beyond words. I was so excited," another member of the service Lee Chang-hak (
Lee Chang-hak added that he felt as though he had found a member of his own family.
When asked if they were worried about the aftershocks, which might have put their own lives in danger, they rescue workers said with one voice: "Nothing is more precious than life.We cared more about saving lives than any other unknown dangers."
Both Lees were invited back to Taiwan one year after the disaster a visit sponsored by the Hallmark Entertainment Network (美商賀曼公司) to promote international cooperation in earthquake rescue efforts.
They, along with 13 rescuers from five other countries including the US, Japan, Russia, Turkey and France, will go on a five-day tour of disaster-hit areas starting today.
Lee Hyun-woo said they were worried about whether Chang was suffering from any kind of psychological trauma since natural disasters, like the 921 quake always, have the potential to cast a tragic shadow over the rest of the victims' life.
Fortunately, and to the relief of many, Chang is reported to have got over the disaster and is living a stable life with relatives, including his grandparents and aunts, in Nantou County. Chang, showing a maturity much greater than his age, has even been a source of comfort to his relatives, still mourning the death of their loved ones, his own parents and siblings.
Recalling their rescue work, Lee Hyun-woo said that his team was abundantly and well backed up by local rescuers.
"It takes everybody, however, to be aware of the possibility of disasters and a high degree of cooperation between the government and the private sector to maximize the forces available for rescue work,"he said.
As Taiwan becomes better endowed with both the skills and the technology required for earthquake rescue work, Lee Hyun-woo also said that "Taiwan should enhance its training for the use of rescue dogs, who often an invaluable source of assistance during the first 72 critical hours' of a life-saving mission."
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