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USF student's dad helping victims in Mexico

One of several images of hope from tragedy
Posted at 5:15 PM, Sep 21, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-21 17:15:52-04

The Mexican Navy confirms there are no missing children inside a collapsed school in Mexico City, but they believe an adult is still alive in the rubble.

There were concerns a child was buried there.

Rescuers are still digging for survivors trapped in the rubble two days after that devastating 7.1 magnitude earthquake.

The mayor says at least 52 people have been pulled alive from collapsed buildings.

Sadly though, the number of confirmed people killed has gone up to at least 250.

The President of Mexico has declared three days of national mourning.

There are also pictures of hope coming out of Mexico, like that of a man pulling a rescued dog alive from the rubble.

Turns out the man's son goes to school in Tampa.

"I was in the car going to class and I immediately called my dad and just dead signal," explains Daniel Gonzalez about the moment he found out about the earthquake.

It would be several hours before the USF student would hear from his dad

"Obviously you get very shook up about it," says Gonzalez.

But his dad, Carlos Gonzalez, didn't stay home for long.

The state department employee took off his tie, put on a hard hat, and got to work.

"He's always been that person to go that extra mile to help people," says Daniel, who lives and works in Tampa.

A photo of Carlos Gonzalez was published to the BBC News Instagram page, showing him pulling a dog from the rubble of a Mexico City building.

The caption reads..."rescue teams have been joined by ordinary people."

Carlos Gonzalez is a former member of the US Air Force where he helped with search and rescue operations, including during the moments immediately after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Now an employee for the State Department, he jumped into action when tragedy struck.

"Being a Latino, it was super hard to hear what was happening in Mexico but to see that my dad was actually in the thick of it, you get a wave of pride," says Daniel Gonzalez.

And while there are several natural disasters in our part of the world demanding attention right now, from the Hurricane in Puerto Rico, to storm damage in Florida and Texas, Gonzalez hopes that doesn't mean the people hurting in Mexico will be overlooked.

If you want to help the people of Mexico, there are several reputable Mexican non-profit organizations accepting donations, inclduing Topos México, a rescue brigade that will accept money through PayPal: donativos@brigada-rescate-topos.org. 

You can also send money through Direct Relief, the United Way of Mexico and Global Giving.