George building collapse: Survivor says thoughts of son kept hope alive
Delvin Safers, who lost all his electrician colleagues in the collapse, was trapped underground for 28 hours before he was rescued.
Picture: Kayleen Morgan/Eyewitness News
GEORGE - A survivor of the George construction tragedy said the thought of not seeing his toddler again was his motivation to fight for survival.
Delvin Safers, an electrician from Mossel Bay, survived the five-storey apartment building collapse last week Monday.
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In total, 81 people were on site and, at last count, 33 deaths were confirmed with 19 people still unaccounted for.
Safers said he was struggling with survivor’s remorse after hearing all his electrician colleagues perished.
“It’s a difficult situation. None of my colleagues made it, so that’s a bitter feeling. It doesn’t matter how I feel, that’s the worst feeling.”
The 29-year-old is still nursing a broken rib and a stapled gash to the head, but he’s grateful to be alive.
He was trapped underground for 28 hours.
With 22% battery life, he made contact with his family and was able to guide rescuers to where he was trapped.
“At first, I wasn’t calm because I didn’t have any signal at that time.”
Thoughts of his two-year-old son kept his hope alive.