Photographer behind haunting image of girl with black eyes explained why he didn't try and save her
Warning: This article contains images which some readers may find distressing.
A 13-year-old girl became the tragic face of a natural disaster, after a photo of Omayra Sánchez Garzón was taken in the wake of a volcano eruption.
The teenager became trapped after the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia erupted.
The loss of life was enormous, killing around 20,000 of the 29,000 residents in the town of Armero, but the death toll gradually climbed to 23,000.
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It took place back in 1985, and the volcanic eruption caused glaciers on the mountain to melt, leading to a pyroclastic mudflow known as a 'lahar'.
A photographer caught a haunting image of the teenager where her eyes had turned black as she was trapped.
The youngster was caught under volcanic debris and mud, and multiple rescue efforts were made but she tragically died.
The desperate rescuers had tried to save her life but eventually there was nothing they could do but try to reassure her and bring her comfort.
Rescuers had put a tyre around her to keep her afloat and brought her sweets and drinks.
She died a few days later on November 16, three days after the volcano erupted, and is thought to have died of either hypothermia or gangrene.
She is quoted as saying: "Mommy, I love you so much, daddy I love you, brother I love you."
After she died, divers managed to investigate the scene, and found that her legs had been trapped under the roof of her house and the arms of her deceased aunt were holding on to them.
Photographer Frank Fournier is the man responsible for the picture of the young girl, where her eyes had turned black from being so bloodshot.
It is believed her eyes went so dark due to her prolonged submersion in the water, as well as the pressure being applied to her body from the rubble.
He said the girl had been 'facing death with courage and dignity' and recalled how she had started to hallucinate.
The photographer said she became confused and started to ask him to take her to school as she was so worried she would be late.
Frank explained: "She was in a large puddle, trapped from the waist down by concrete and other debris from the collapsed houses.
"She had been there for almost three days. Dawn was just breaking and the poor girl was in pain and very confused."
"All around, hundreds of people were trapped. Rescuers were having difficulty reaching them."
He said after the picture was seen around the world, people were constantly asking him: "Why didn't you help her? Why didn't you get her out?"
He told the BBC that 'it was impossible' to save her.
Fournier explained: "There was an outcry - debates on television on the nature of the photojournalist, how much he or she is a vulture.
"But I felt the story was important for me to report and I was happier that there was some reaction; it would have been worse if people had not cared about it.
"I am very clear about what I do and how I do it, and I try to do my job with as much honesty and integrity as possible.
"I believe the photo helped raise money from around the world in aid and helped highlight the irresponsibility and lack of courage of the country's leaders.
"There was an obvious lack of leadership. There were no evacuation plans, yet scientists had foreseen the catastrophic extent of the volcano's eruption.
"People still find the picture disturbing. This highlights the lasting power of this little girl. I was lucky that I could act as a bridge to link people with her. It's the magic of the thing."
Topics: World News
Jen Thomas