By Rachel Smalley
Wrapped in a blanket, Ann Bodkin emerged from the wreckage of the Pyne Gould Corporation building this morning - she'd been trapped for twenty five hours.
Her rescuers used hammers, drills, crowbars, and saws to get to her.
“She was complaining of being a bit sore because she'd been laying on one side for a long time but in the midst of what is one of the bleakest days in the story of our city the sun came out at the same moment that they removed Anne from that building,” said Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker.
She was one of at least eleven saved by the rescue team who worked in rain, cold, and constant shaking.
Close by though Alan and Julie Berg waited. Their 37-year-old daughter Heidi was teaching English in the CTV building when the earthquake struck.
They haven't heard from her since, and have been camping out in nearby Latimer Square.
“It sort of, it gives you some peace knowing that your close,” said father Alan Berg.
The Bergs are among dozens of families who have gathered here.
They wait in hope for any news but it is hard to come by.
No one has been brought out alive since four this morning.
It was thought a pocket of up to fifteen survivors had been found trapped but alive in the rubble, but that later proved a false alarm.
And all the while aftershocks rocked the city.
There's been more than 120 since yesterday's big quake.
“We have pulled out for the time being and we are concentrating around at one of the other buildings,” said Fire Service National Commander Mike Hall.
“(At this building) we are getting some success in finding survivors, there's been frankly no sign of life in this building for the last eight hours or so. We are concentrating our resources where we can get maximum benefit.”
It's a painful decision for the relatives in Latimer Square to accept, but one that may help save other lives.
Back at the Pyne Gould building though the news was happier. A mixture of men and women were saved there today 11 in total.
“If you're claustrophobic you wouldn't be very good,” said rescuer Jason Sutherland, who was one of the men to pull out survivors.
“You've got to work with a lot of debris, took me two hours to get from me to you. They were very calm, but once they got to see you that's when I felt them break down
Carl Stockton, another rescuer, said the relief of those saved was palpable.
“’Thank you, thank you, thank you, I'm getting married in two days’ they said,” said Mr Stockton.
“Soon as they hear your voice that's your first contact and you just want to dig, dig, dig.
“I'm claustrophobic and this guy's claustrophobic and we went through gaps like that and you've got tons of rubble and the shakes and all that.”
The team were exhausted but continued work.
“It's a good feeling watching them coming out - it's like winning lotto, it's better than lotto.”
Everyone's hoping there'll be more good news stories, but the longer the clock ticks, the more unlikely that becomes.
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