Fri Oct 03 09:10:25 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Teen Rescued After Three Days Trapped in Collapsed Indonesian School**
SIDOARJO, East Java – Hopes turned to elation as rescuers pulled 13-year-old Selendra Haikal Rakaditya from the rubble of the Al-Khoziny Islamic Boarding School on Thursday, nearly 72 hours after it collapsed. Haikal, along with other students, had been trapped since Monday afternoon when the building gave way, reportedly due to the weight of ongoing construction on an upper floor.
Dewi Ajeng, Haikal’s mother, recounted the agonizing wait after receiving news of the collapse. Arriving at the scene, she joined frantic efforts to locate her son. “I just knew he was in there,” she stated, directing rescue teams to his likely location after hearing his voice calling for her in a video from the site.
The rescue operation was fraught with difficulty, as Haikal was trapped in an air pocket with other pupils, blocked by the body of a deceased friend. Despite the dire circumstances, Haikal, drawing on his science lessons to conserve energy, remained calm and encouraged his trapped companions to pray.
Five students died in the collapse, and dozens were initially unaccounted for. Approximately 100 students managed to escape the crumbling building, some with serious injuries.
After his rescue, Haikal was rushed to a local hospital where he is currently in intensive care. Doctors are working to restore blood flow to his leg, which was injured by falling debris. Dewi credits her son’s resilience to his resourceful nature and active lifestyle. She plans to let him choose a new school once he recovers from his traumatic experience.
First Piper 