In a remarkable display of resilience and determination, emergency responders in Venezuela successfully extracted Hernán Gil from the rubble of a collapsed multi-story car park eight days after twin earthquakes ravaged the country. Located more than 100 hours post-disaster, Gil had miraculously survived under an estimated 140 tonnes of debris. The rescue operation, described as "the most complex and technically difficult" by a Chilean firefighter, unfolded amidst the ongoing catastrophe that has left at least 2,595 people dead and tens of thousands still missing as of Thursday evening. Gil, a security guard on duty in a small concrete booth in the basement of a parking lot adjacent to the Galerias Playa Grande mall in Catia La Mar, was shielded from the debris by his booth, which created a protective shell around him. He had been given water and placed on an intravenous drip while teams from Venezuela, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Portugal, and the United States collaborated tirelessly to free him. The rescue efforts were fraught with challenges as parts of the access ducts built for rescuers collapsed several times, posing risks to both Gil and the rescuers. Overnight, visual contact was finally established with the survivor, leading to his eventual extraction. Footage recorded during the operation showed a bloodshot eye and a face mask on Gil, who remained determined throughout the ordeal, conversing with rescuers about his family and the challenging rescue mission. Marco Antonio Franco from the Mexican Red Cross described Gil as a "cheerful man" who asked for specific flavored hydration drinks and expressed gratitude towards the rescuers. The experience of locating and rescuing Gil has reportedly left a profound impact on Allan Madrigal, the Costa Rican paramedic who first heard Gil's faint cries for help, marking his first international rescue mission.