Published on 06:59 PM, May 14, 2015

'Miracle baby' for Nepal earthquake victim

Health workers found Dolma Tamang just before she went into labour. Photo BBC

A pregnant woman who dug herself out of the rubble after the Nepal earthquake has given birth to a healthy boy.

The Red Cross said that 28-year-old Dolma Tamang was buried under her house when it collapsed on top of her on the 25 April.

She managed to free herself from the debris but was badly hurt and did not know where to go for help.

Health workers found her just as she was about to go into labour and rushed her to the nearest clinic in Melamchi.

"I was so worried about the baby, that I did not care about my own health, even though I had wounds everywhere and had trouble breathing", said Tamang.

'Little miracle'

She said that her local health post had been destroyed by the 7.8-magnitude quake and that she had not been able to walk the three hours to the nearest clinic in Melamchi in Sindhupalchok, north-east of Kathmandu.

A Japanese mobile clinic team found her by chance, according to the Red Cross.

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"This baby being born healthy is a sign of hope and second life for our whole family", said Tamang.

"Even though we lost almost all of our belongings and live in a temporary shelter, I could not be happier and more thankful for this little miracle," she said.

More than 8,000 people died in Nepal's devastating quake last month.

At least 48 people were killed in a second major earthquake that struck on Tuesday near Mount Everest, just two weeks after the first.