In Haiti: Anderson Cooper Carries Boy to Safety, Gupta Performs Surgery

By Marc Schneider Posted Jan 19th 2010 08:04AM

Anderson Cooper and Sanjay Gupta played superheros on CNN over the weekend. First off, while covering the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake, Cooper put down his camera and microphone and pulled a bloodied young boy away from a chaotic scene in front of a storefront in Port-au-Prince.

Footage of the chaos shows Cooper amid a group of rock-hurling looters. The boy shown in the segment was apparently struck in the head by debris and began bleeding profusely. Cooper began helping the child walk away, but then decided to carry him to safer ground. Watch after the jump:

But he wasn't the only CNN journalist to step in to help. While Cooper used his muscles, Dr. Sanjay Gupta used his medical degree. The reporter literally performed neurosurgery on a young girl on a U.S. aircraft carrier after no qualified doctors could be found. She had a 0.4-inch chunk of concrete embedded in her skull. Assisted by Los Angeles surgeon Henri Ford, Gupta pulled off the surgery between his multiple reports for CNN.

"Someone got a hold of our international desk," Gupta later recalled. "They said there was an urgent call from the Carl Vinson. So I put a call in to them and there was something about a head injury."

Gupta and Ford said they believed the girl would make a full recovery.

"I was honored to help out," said Gupta afterward. "I have a profound respect for the capabilities of the US Navy and the medical team on board the Carl Vinson."

Tags: anderson cooper, haiti, Sanjay Gupta

Comments

(58)

Tuesday 19 January

By John Corbett

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Unbelievable...these guys (Cooper and Gupta)got it right! At one point in their conversation last night Anderson basically states " you must want to scream at the top of your lungs" over the frustration he must feel about the lack of medical care and inattention to the most obvious...people are dying needlessly and recklessly (I think) because our "experts" are clueless as to what they are doing. OMG - I couldnt take it anymore, so I SCREAMED for the both of them! Drop the supplies, by air and step back. At this point if a few die to save the majority in the attempts to deliver aid (food - water - medical supplies) then thats the RIGHT decision without DOUBT. Whats being done now is a disaster and unforgivable. Anyone out there agree?

By jerry

show this clip to obama. r u serious. get the freakin marines in there and stop this craziness. just like cooper said last night they let in govoners and politicians yet make hospitasal supplies go to another airport. stop it. get obama over there.

By DAVE

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"If a few die...."? First rule in relief, search & rescue: DON'T create additional victims, thus wasting your resources that could be used on the original victims. Let your emotions cloud the view of what to do and when and you've set yourself up to fail.

Thursday 21 January

By pamela

thankyou for writing exactly how I feel !!! cudo,s to you

By Wayne S. Swanson II

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My goodness , pleae give them a chance they are only human also!
Ask yourself ? What am I doing to help ? just belly aching
about these brave folks risking their all to help! Are you related to Rush (DRUG ADDICT) Limbutt? and pat( THE Satan spokes person) Robertson?
What if dumb butt bush was still up there in bushes own words that he bush is the decider! deciding how stupied he bush is!

By nancy

Tell the think tank on journalism to stuff it, Emergency care is needed where ever it occurs, and bravo for Cooper and Gupta for stepping up. Do you stand by and let children or any one else you can assist die so you can get the story? How Crass

By RQ

This is kind of random, but seeing Anderson Cooper pick up that blood boy without hesitation made me think of it. Haiti has a very high HIV/AIDS infection rate. How many people are being exposed to infection because of the all the blood and other body fluids? It's not like everyone has rubber gloves. Anderson knows the stats about Haiti, and yet he didn't think twice about picking up a bloody boy. Another reason to love Anderson Cooper.

I think he and Sanjay Gupta made a good point about one of the reasons for the chaos--this is Haiti. It's a sovereign country. We're not in charge. No matter how much we've promised to help and want to help, without Haiti's government's approval, we're stuck. And Haiti's government is mostly dysfunctional at the best of times. So I'm not willing to lay ALL of the blame on the U.S. (or aid organizations). But how you're a doctor and walk away from someone who's bleeding or you're someone with food and walk away is beyond me. Still, I'm not there and they are. Easy for me to say what I think they should do.

By NobelPrizeforCooper&Gupta

There is no question in my mind that Andersen Cooper and Sanjay Cooper should be awarded a Nobel Prize for the humnitarian work that they have done, not only in bringing to the world the events that are occurring, but showing their humanity in the face of horrible odds, to save people when they can. They are models for all of us!

By LQ

First of all, can you contract aids simply by touching exposed blood? Please do your research. Secondly, Haiti has NO government right now. The bridges that lead into Port Au Prince have to be cleared for structural damage before any relief is even thought about sent into the capital. Forces on the ground are doing the best with the situation at hand.

Wednesday 20 January

By Christina

to the person who asked if you can get HIV from touching blood. Absolutely. Any break or opening of skin, ie a paper cut, will allow transmission of HIV. i just had to say that--not to be a smart ass-- but to hopefully help someone know the dangers of HIV.

on a more important note, I am very, very proud of anderson cooper and sanjay gupta. proves that they are more than just talk and ratings because it was not part of their job as journalist to take the personal risks (although dr gupta must follow his oath as a doctor). but i am very proud of them both regardless.

By Bill Conklin

Dr. Gupta has been the "hero" before in devestation and even in war zones, he has never failed to pitch in and help. Many think he is a "celebrity Dr" but this guy is the real deal - a brilliant surgeon. He would have made a good Surgeon General but to be honest, he may be more effective where he is.
As to Mr. Cooper? Well done! WELL DONE!

By sweetdollface

More reasons to LOVE Anderson Cooper and Dr.Gupta!
Now these men are SUPERHEROES!!!

By Dave

I think it's sad that CNN is using the tradgedy in Haiti for ratings and a photo op. All the aid people there are pulling children from the rubble. What about the soldiers and rescuers who are saving people every minute. Anderson Cooper drops his mic and pulls a child from the rubbble and he is a hero. C'mon!

By Ciara Zettoni

Dave you're right. Every person that save another human being is a hero, not only Cooper and Cupta.

By WILL

ALL THE MONEY ,AID AND SUPPLIES WE ARE SENDING THERE , PEOPLE ARE STILL BASHING US ,,,,,FTW

By Marty K

What a staged, self promoting hunk of crap.

All of his PR won't help CNN's ratings.

By Jim

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I don't see Limbaugh or Beck helping anybody. Fox News just wants to whine and bash Obama and anything liberal.

By Janet Cochran

you know you can volunteer to go over and help if you have an ability they can use. Easy to condemn someone else. Maybe they have contributed money, which is needed. Have you?

By Rick W

Marty get a life. Would you say that if it was your child? I didn't so.

By Hannah

Dave, don't be an ass! What would you have them do? Turn their backs and say "oh well...back to the news?" I thank God for Dr. Gupta and for Anderson Cooper...if they hadn't done what they did...WHO WOULD HAVE DONE IT? You? Hum? They just happened to be journalists who decided to take some action instead of robotically reporting. For Cooper to pick up a child with blood streaming down his face was nothing short of amazing. CNN has gained a new fan in me...I am full of respect for their journalist who are not only reporting, but HELPING when they can.

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