Wenchuan Earthquake: 10 years on

Xue Xiao

Photo at the top shows Xue Xiao being rescued from the rubble on Thursday, May 15, 2008. The 18-year-old turned to one of his rescuers and said, "Remember my Coke, uncle? With ice." Photo at the bottom shows Xue, now working at a Coca-Cola museum in Sichuan's capital Chengdu, meeting the press on Monday, April 2, 2018. [Photo: China Plus]

Ten years ago, 18-year-old Xue Xiao was buried in rubble after the earthquake destroyed his school in Mianzhu. He was been trapped for nearly 80 hours before been found with his right arm pinned under a slab of concrete.

As the rescuers worked frantically to free him, they kept him talking to stop him from falling asleep. 

"An uncle asked me what I'd like to do when I'm out, and I said that I wanted to drink a Coke. The uncle promised to buy me an iced Coke, and I offered him an ice cream in return", Xue told journalists with scol.com.cn.

Xue was freed from the rubble at around 7 p.m. on May 15. 

He turned to one of his rescuers and said, "Remember my Coke, uncle? With ice." 

It was then that his nickname "Coke Boy" stuck. And it was a moment of humour in an otherwise grim scene. 

Xue was sent to hospital, and his right arm was later amputated.

In 2009, Xue and the rescuer caught up and fulfilled their promises to each other. Since then, they have kept in regular contact.

File photo shows rescuers visit Xue Xiao as he receives medical treatment in hospital. [File Photo: YNET.com]

That same year, Xue was admitted to Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. After graduating in 2013, he returned to Sichuan's capital Chengdu and has worked at a local Coca-Cola museum ever since.

Looking back over the past 10 years, Xue said that it was important to never give up. 

"I triumphed over adversity with an optimistic attitude, just like I did when I was trapped for 80 hours in the rubble," he said on Sunday at the launch of a book about the earthquake.