World-renowned woman, called a "miracle child," dies in Mozambique
In Mozambique, 25-year-old Rosita Salvador Mabuiango, a woman known as a "miracle child" because she was born in a tree during a devastating flood, has died after a prolonged illness, writes the BBC.
Rescuers came to the aid of newborn Rosita and her mother. Photo: SABC
Rosita came into the world in 2000, when the Limpopo River in the south of the country overflowed its banks, causing the largest flood in Mozambique's history. Hundreds of people died then, and hundreds of thousands were left homeless. The infant and her mother were rescued by South African military personnel using a helicopter — these images circulated worldwide and became a symbol of the tragedy.
According to the woman's relatives, Rosita suffered from anemia for many years and also had tuberculosis. Due to a sharp deterioration in her condition, she had been in the hospital for more than two weeks, where she died on January 12.
The girl's mother recalled that during the flood, the family spent several days in a tree without food or help. The birth began right there, above the water, and relatives held a cloth underneath so the baby wouldn't fall into the water. When rescuers found the family, the infant was still connected to her mother by the umbilical cord.
Mother and daughter became symbols of human resilience in the face of natural disaster. They later even visited the USA, where they spoke about the consequences of the catastrophe and appealed for aid to Mozambique.
Rosita grew up in her native area, finished school, and became a mother herself five years ago. However, despite promises from the authorities, she never managed to receive a scholarship to study at university.
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