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| Mexico earthquake: Girl who captivated the nation never existed | Mexico earthquake: Girl who captivated the nation never existed |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Frida Sofia, a young girl believed to be trapped in the rubble of a collapsed school, stole the heart of a nation shocked by a deadly earthquake on Tuesday. But it seems Frida Sofia never existed. | Frida Sofia, a young girl believed to be trapped in the rubble of a collapsed school, stole the heart of a nation shocked by a deadly earthquake on Tuesday. But it seems Frida Sofia never existed. |
| As rescue workers raced to free people from the ruins of Enrique Rébsamen school, Mexicans fixated on the fate of the child. | As rescue workers raced to free people from the ruins of Enrique Rébsamen school, Mexicans fixated on the fate of the child. |
| "Frida Sophia" had apparently said, "I'm thirsty, I'm okay. Please don't take too long", Mexican newspaper El Universal reported on 21 September. | |
| But on Thursday night the navy confirmed the story of Frida was false and apologised for conflicting reports. | But on Thursday night the navy confirmed the story of Frida was false and apologised for conflicting reports. |
| Frida Sofia was believed to be one of numerous children and adults trapped for more than 32 hours. | Frida Sofia was believed to be one of numerous children and adults trapped for more than 32 hours. |
| For two days journalists gathered at the scene and social media users shared memes and emotional messages of support in more than 350,000 tweets. | For two days journalists gathered at the scene and social media users shared memes and emotional messages of support in more than 350,000 tweets. |
| "Little Frida Sofia has survived 32 hours trapped under the rubble, fighting for her life. A real fighter, soon she will be out of it," wrote Mexican YouTuber Ryan Hoffman, in a tweet shared more than 5,000 times. | "Little Frida Sofia has survived 32 hours trapped under the rubble, fighting for her life. A real fighter, soon she will be out of it," wrote Mexican YouTuber Ryan Hoffman, in a tweet shared more than 5,000 times. |
| Rumours seemed to be confirmed by Navy Admiral Jose Vergara Larra who told media that after four hours of rescue operations they had detected a girl who was alive. | Rumours seemed to be confirmed by Navy Admiral Jose Vergara Larra who told media that after four hours of rescue operations they had detected a girl who was alive. |
| Reports that no-one had come forward as parents of the child sparked some scepticism and the school itself said on Thursday morning they had no student registered under that name. | Reports that no-one had come forward as parents of the child sparked some scepticism and the school itself said on Thursday morning they had no student registered under that name. |
| The story of Frida Sofia was "not a reality", Angel Enrique Sarmiento, the under-secretary of the navy, reported on Thursday afternoon. | The story of Frida Sofia was "not a reality", Angel Enrique Sarmiento, the under-secretary of the navy, reported on Thursday afternoon. |
| There were no signs that a child was alive in the ruins of the school and government authorities said they had never known about a child called Frida Sofia, he claimed. | There were no signs that a child was alive in the ruins of the school and government authorities said they had never known about a child called Frida Sofia, he claimed. |
| However, on Thursday night Mr Sarmiento contradicted his earlier statement, confirming that the navy had distributed reports of a surviving girl. | However, on Thursday night Mr Sarmiento contradicted his earlier statement, confirming that the navy had distributed reports of a surviving girl. |
| "I offer an apology to Mexicans for the information given this afternoon in which I said that the navy did not have any details about a supposed minor survivor in this tragedy," Mr Sarmiento told reporters at a news conference. | "I offer an apology to Mexicans for the information given this afternoon in which I said that the navy did not have any details about a supposed minor survivor in this tragedy," Mr Sarmiento told reporters at a news conference. |
| The body of a female teacher was found on Thursday night. | The body of a female teacher was found on Thursday night. |
| Spanish newspaper El País attributed the case of the "girl that wasn't" to a lie or a collective psychosis, suggesting it mirrors the story of Monchito, a child invented in the 1985 earthquake in Mexico that killed at least 10,000 people. | |
| A column in Mexican news magazine Proceso criticised the media for creating a "reality show" out of the disaster and fuelling rumours of a girl that turned out to be made up. | |
| On Friday officials said the death toll from the earthquake on Tuesday has risen to 273. | On Friday officials said the death toll from the earthquake on Tuesday has risen to 273. |
| By Georgina Rannard, UGC & Social news | By Georgina Rannard, UGC & Social news |