As hope fades of finding people alive six days after a landslide destroyed a rural community near Oso, a video shows the incredible moment in which a 4-year-old boy who was rescued on Sunday has brought back some hope for the hundreds of people who want to reunite with their families.
Jacob Spillers, a 4-year-old, was one of the more than 100 people who were trapped in the mud after a landslide destroyed dozens of houses and killed at least 24 people.
According to USA Today, the boy was in his house with his father, Billy Spillers and his three brothers when they were caught unaware by the landslide.
The video, released by the Snhomish Helicopter Rescue Team shows the dramatic moment in which Jacob is rescued from the mud and remains of what was his home.
With his head barely out of the mud and unable to move, the small boy was spotted by one of the rescue teams flying over the area in one of the most hopeful moments since the tragedy in Oso happened.
"He was so buried his pants had fallen off. The mud was compacting around him in such a manner that it was holding him down with such strength that he was unable to get out," said rescue crew member Ed Hribank to The New York Daily News.
With the help of a volunteer, Jacob was finally able to get free and was urgently transported in a helicopter to a nearby hospital.
His mother, who was working when the landslide happened, was able to reunite with the boy later; however, Jacob's three brothers, 13 year old Jovon, 5-year old Kaylee and 2-year-old Brooke, and their father, Billy Spillers, were not as lucky and so far are still missing.
Yesterday, five days after the tragedy, Washington authorities reduced the number of missing people to 90, while the number of mortal victims rose to 24, according to Reuters.
Rescue efforts continue on Friday, March 28; however, bad weather and the instability of the area slow down the rescue efforts.
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