Survivor found in tsunami rubble
Sri Lankan dehydrated, thin and could only mumble his name
From Kasra Naji and Satinder Bindra
CNN
GALLE, Sri Lanka (CNN) -- After what is believed to be nearly two weeks trapped under the ruins of a seaside shop, a man was rushed to a hospital on Saturday in this southern Sri Lankan city, able only to mumble his name.
Doctors at Karapitiya Hospital believe he is a survivor from the tsunami that struck the country December 26. He is believed to be about 60 years old.
They said it was possible that rain following the disaster kept him hydrated enough to live.
The man, who says his name is Sivisena, is severely dehydrated and has pneumonia, which doctors say is common among survivors -- many of whom spent a lot of time in the water.
He also has a fracture in his arm which doctors say looks to be between several days and a couple of weeks old.
The man has a growth of beard which would be consistent with two weeks without shaving, and is suffering from amnesia. He is severely underweight.
He has been given electrolytes and sugar intravenously, and doctors are waiting until he can tell them more. Officials were checking to see if the man was on a list of the missing.
"Miracles do happen," Dr. Chandra Pala Mudanngake said.
The man was found around 3 p.m. (4 a.m. ET) in Galle's market area, which was wiped out by the December 26 tsunami. The volunteers who found him turned him over to police, who brought him to the hospital.
More than 46,000 were killed in Sri Lanka by the massive waves.
