We hear that breastfeeding is lifesaving. As Certified Breastfeeding Counselors (CBC) we learn about the importance of breastfeeding. Amid a shocking tragedy, breastfeeding saved two lives. Following the Turkey-Syria earthquake, a mom breastfed her baby while buried in rubble.
“If my baby hadn’t been strong enough to handle this, I wouldn’t have been either,” Necla Camuz, 33, said of being trapped for nearly four days with her son amongst the rubble.
A true situation of bravery and strength for the mom breastfeeding. A miracle for her baby staying strong. A year later, we reflect on the amazing bravery of this mother baby dyad.
Turkey-Syria Earthquake: Mom Breastfed Her Baby – Saving Two Lives
On February 6, 2023, a massive earthquake hit Turkey and Syria. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake left a trail of destruction, rubble, and claimed tens of thousands of lives.
Yet, two miraculous humans survived over 90 hours after the earthquake, buried in rubble, having only each other. Necla Camuz, and her 10-day-old baby, Yagiz Ulas, were rescued from the rubble of their former home after nearly four days.
Camuz told the BBC she “was terrified” that no one would come to their rescue. Trapped under the rubble of a five-story building, the two survived on breast milk and hope. Shortly after her rescue, she credits her baby for saving her life.
“I think if my baby hadn’t been strong enough to handle this, I wouldn’t have been either,” she shared.
Attempts to get rescuers’ attention failed in the first few days. She tried banging on a wardrobe hoping the sound would be heard. But the deep rubble and destruction kept rescuers from hearing her.
At one point, Camuz tried drinking her own breast milk.
The Rescue
Miraculously, despite no food or water, Camuz managed to sustain her baby for those three, nearly four, days. A testament to the power of the human body, the will to survive, and the drive to nourish one’s baby.
Finally, on the third day, Camuz heard people and dogs searching through the rubble. Soon after she heard them, she and her newborn were saved.
Shockingly, neither were suffering from life threatening injuries. They spend just 24 hours in the hospital before being released. Camuz’s husband Irfan and eldest son Yigit also survived this incident but sustained major injuries to their legs and feet.
The family miraculously escaped with their lives, though the incident left them and their extended family homeless. Camuz is thankful, however, that her newborn will not remember this incident.
The Importance of Breastfeeding and Unexpected Circumstances
One of the most important things about breast milk is that it is nearly always available by a lactating parent. Even in times of temporary dehydration and lack of food, it is readily available.
We cannot always know what circumstances a mother baby pair will find them in. And certainly, being trapped under rubble is fortunately extremely rare. Nonetheless, other disasters can occur, lack of water can happen, and access to formula impossible.
Encouraging more parents to breastfeed can help save lives. While these situations are rare, things such as illness are not. We know that breastfeeding can reduce the frequency and severity of several childhood illnesses.
And while these instances are very rare, in 2006, a mother was able to provide breast milk for two children while trapped in their car due to snow.