UN worker pulled alive from Haiti's rubble
Updated on 21 January 2010
A United Nations peacekeeper who was trapped under rubble for 5 days without food and water, has described how he saved his urine in case he had to drink it.
Jens Kristensen is lucky to be alive.
The Danish United Nations peacekeeper was pulled from the rubble from Haiti's devastating earthquake four days ago.
Frail, suffering chronic dehydration, but alive.
Mr Kristensen spent the last few days recovering in hospital before speaking of his ordeal.
Trapped in darkness for five days without food or water, he saved urine in a coffee jar in case he needed to drink it.
"It never came to the point," he said. "It does not taste good, it doesn't smell good, so thank God I didn't come to the point where I needed to drink it."
There were others trapped close to him. He could hear two people nearby tapping. But after three days, everything fell silent.
But Mr Kristensen always knew he would be rescued. "A belief in that I would survive, that I would be found, I think mentally made me survive," he said.
After more than a week, there are still some moments of joy in Haiti.
Eight year old Kiki was pulled alive from the rubble.
The boy was not alone. His sister Sabrina was next him. At first she appeared lifeless, but like her brother she is now in remarkably good shape.
Despite these stories of survival, rescue teams are beginning to pull back.
Nine days after the quake the likelihood of pulling more out alive fades by the hour.
