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 peaches

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I love Anderson Cooper. He isnt doing this for a photo opp. When he was in New Orleans he was pissed because help hadnt arrived. He was one of the first ones there. He didnt have to help. Reporters are suppose to remain neutral. He helped anyway and he is brave to be in the midst of all this chaos,

By winston30187

Not only should Cooper and Gupta be applauded, Gupta should get the pulitzer. Doctors take a hypocratic oath and good doctors act on it. The boy was losing a significant amount of blood rapidly and, had it not been for Cooper's actions, could have potentially bled to death. In a mire of hopelessness, it's easy to see Cooper was putting the boy's life before the journalist code.

I hope that what we don't see is journalism taking a twist and trying to get reporters to be a part of the story and turn what were raw and instinctive acts of courage into exploitable practices.

By lili dauphin

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Anderson Cooper did the right thing. He did what any descent human-being would do. It's our job to help our fellow men in time of distress. Great Job Mr. Cooper. I'm very proud of you.

By phuck limbaugh

Where is RUSH LIMBAUGH??

He is snorting OXY's in his West Palm Beach MANSION!!!!

By Cmore

the UN and Haiti government officials are the ones in charge. We are there to ASSIST. The UN has never done a good job at directing anything and HAITI well that speaks for itself. They get billions of aid every year and their country is the poorest and 70% of the people live at below poverty. what does that tell you. Send in the marines to restore order. Send in American construction workers to rebuild Haiti. We know what building codes are and how to get the job done.

Wednesday 20 January

By Rick Astley

What a story! I always thought of Anderson Cooper as just another liberal reporter, but he just earned my respect. Getting between an angry mob and their target takes some serious courage.

By monkey boy

Bravo, people. This world has enough "experts" that stand back like vultures and pontificate on diasters and human misery, and turn them into entertainment and cartoons. It's a good thing to see two men remember that they're human first and experts last. Good job.

By gerry

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WHY ARE WE THERE IN THE FIRST I DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY HELPING US DURING KATRINA AND THE EARTHQUAKES IN CALIF!!!!! WHY DOES THE REST OF THE WORLD BASH US AND THEN SAY AMERICA WILL HELP? BECAUSE OF ALL THE BLEEDING HEART ACTOR, ACTRESSES AND RICH ASSES TRY TO SAY HEY I'M HELPING ALL I SAY IS BULLS--T!!!!!!!!!!

By Trisha A Sample

I, for one feel so sorry for the people of Haiti, for no matter how much money and supplies the United States or any other country sends to Haiti, their officials will take off the top and then maybe the people will get some of what is left. In disasters like this one, the United States seem to be first to touch ground with help, so why is there so much red tape in getting the help where it is needed. Let the military keep the peace while everyone else removes the rubble to save lives. My love goes out to Anderson Cooper and Dr. Sanjay Cupta, for their bravery and humanitarian step forward, the world needs more people like them.
Any Medical (trauma only) personal volunteers, all medical supplies should be brought in by the Military and triage's set up every 1/4 mile with nurses/medics and anyone that can carry a liter regardless who they are should be use to help the ones that can not get to the triage his/her self. The doctors should be used where a nurse/medic can not stabilize the situation. Doctors that are there to do surgery where and when need should have a separate place from the triage's.
I'm not saying I have all the answers, but if the foreign leaders would let the personnal, supplies, food, water, shelter and any other thing the people need to get through this horrible thing that has happen to their country, there would not be rioting and fighting now a week after the disater. "TO THE HAITI LEADER" Please let the people that are there to help, get in and do what they are there for. Don't play life and death with your own people.

By gameratedlemon

Gerry - Regarding Katrina and other disasters, the U.S. is a developed enough country to try to take care of itself. It's worth mentioning that over 200,000 people died in the much poorer Haiti; Katrina's casualties were less than 2,000.

It's nice to see people whose names are in lights do something beyond 'I'll make other people aware about their plight' or 'I'll donate for the cause,' even though the fact this stuff made it onto the television screens is making people question the motives of CNN. Even if it does turn out to be a photo op, it's not a photo op that I'd look down upon.

By bonitatroia

There is just so much caos that i am glad that These reporters are stepping also while doing thier job. And when you help people for a living you can't be frightend of them. I am an emergency worker myself and at times you just leap in even though you know better because of desease but sometimes there is not enough time for gloves. I don't beleive Anderson Cooper did it for ratings. He did it because he is a person and has feelings. I am sure he has jumped in 10 times off camera as well. He is just that kind of person. Great job

By elpablo

An earthquake hit Haiti AGAIN!! maaaan thats tough...

By alvin lee

I liked Anderson until I saw him and these other reporters trying to make themselves look like such heros playing to the camera. They have stooped to a much lower level. But we the views have to know how to see through this trash and know who the real heros are. The real heros don't crawl in a hole that others have been digging all day and pull a child out and then look to see where the cameras are and hold up the child for the camera. Real heros don't look to be interview every time they give a person a drink of water. The real heros don't have time to be interviewed for the camera, they are looking for the next place they can help to save another life. They are not media trash.

By rob

Cooper did what any good father would do for his kid. Excellent display of a great man. If you have kids you will understand this post.

By mif991

Cooper and Gupta are honestly heroic and clearly did what a caring person would do. The CNN execs are quick to show us Cooper and Gupta generosity, for their ratings.

By MARLENE

Why are self serving, useless, idiot politician allowed to land at the airport, while medical supplies are not?

By K.

I have just been so impressed with Cooper and Gupta. But especially Anderson Cooper because of his background.

For those that don't know, Anderson Cooper is the son of fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt. He could be a spoiled rich kid, or a spoiled prettyboy news anchor. But he seems to not be and it is refreshing to see him in the trenches.

Friday 22 January

By johnny

High praise is not enough for these two men; Anderson cooper ,and Dr. Gutpta should be given the nobel prize and awared every journalistic award for their work trying to help the People of Haiti.

I know the govt there is not capable of adminstrating its own people. A sane solution would be for the US govt and all branches of the US military to take over all phases of this operation . Get serious declare martial law..stop the looting , resort order and proceed to provide food , water ., medical care and serach operations for the citizens in need. Stay just as long as it takes for the population to get back on its feet and then give them back control.....But maintian control over the distribution of all such aid till the job is finished..Don't make the mistake of giving control of the billions the world will send to a few , power hungry corrupt politician who have for generations taken everything from their peole to enrich them selves....

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