Nepal earthquake: Teenager rescued five days after the calamity

A 15-year-old boy was pulled out alive from the collapsed ruins of Kathmandu's Hilton Hotel on Thursday, five days after a huge earthquake caused devastation across Nepal and killed nearly 5,500 people.

Survivor Pema Lama was rescued by Nepal's Armed Police Force and carried on a stretcher and in a neck brace to a waiting ambulance.

Lama was conscious, held the hand of one of his rescuers and looked towards a large group of photographers and television news crews as he was brought to safety, a Reuters photographer at the scene said.

A large crowd had gathered and cheered when Lama was brought out. Members of the security forces hoisted the rescuer onto their shoulders to more cheers.

Related read: Nepal finds hero in doctor who carried on operation during earthquake