March 26, 2011

Bright Lights in a Dark Week

Robert Baily, a UK citizen teaching English in Japan, was not even scheduled to work on March 11. On his own initiative he had come in to teach some students the ins and outs of cricket. When the Quake hit, Baily kept his head and got his class outside to avoid falling debris. When the Tsunami sirens lit off he had less than 8 minutes to corral 42 terrified high school students to high ground before death came to the town of Ofunato. None of the schools other students have even been accounted for, but Baily's quick thinking got his entire class to safety. More here.


Image via Sky News

Hideki Akikawa returned home after the earthquake and tsunami to find his city not only demolished but sunk. The quake lowered the level of the town below sea level turning it into a bay.

Akikawa somehow acquired a set of SCUBA gear, dove into the frigid waters, found his home and rescued his wife who was trapped in a submerged air pocket. He later used the same skillset to save his mother, and is now assisting in the relief efforts.
There is a much better telling of this here. (Link NSFW) via.

Closer to home there is this.
 

Image via.
Just over a month ago 9 year old Anaiah Rucker lost her leg. She did so pushing her 5 year old sister out of the way of an oncoming truck. She has been released from the hospital to a well deserved heroes welcome. She has a hard road ahead but thanks to her quick thinking she still has a little sister with which to travel down it.

The times are bad, but there are still good people out there.

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