Photographer of tragic little girl trapped in volcanic mudflow explains why he didn't help her

Warning: This article contains content some readers may find upsetting

When the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia erupted it killed around 20,000 of the 29,000 residents in the town of Armero and left the place devastated.

The death toll from the surrounding areas brought the loss of life up to 25,000, and the town ended up being abandoned altogether.

One of the reasons why this volcanic eruption is thought to have been so deadly is because the eruption melted glaciers on the mountain, creating a pyroclastic mudflow known as a 'lahar'.

It's thought that the town of Armero was hit by three of these events, which took the lives of more townspeople who had survived the initial eruption.

One of the most famous victims was a 13-year-old girl, Omayra Sánchez Garzón, who became pinned down by debris and the volcanic mud.

Multiple rescue efforts were made to save Omayra's life, but the were unsuccessful at getting her out and after several days she died.

This is the picture Frank Fournier took of 13-year-old Omayra Sánchez Garzón. (Wikimedia Commons/Frank Fournier)

Rescue efforts were made, but they were unsuccessful and in the end those who tried to save her life could do little but comfort her in her final hours, they put a tyre around her to keep her afloat while people brought her sweets and drinks.

She died on 16 November, three days after the eruption, of either hypothermia or gangrene, saying: "Mommy, I love you so much, daddy I love you, brother I love you."

Divers would later discover that the 13-year-old's legs were pinned under the roof of her house and the arms of her deceased aunt were holding on to them.

Part of the reason why she became so famous was because of a picture of her taken by photographer Frank Fournier.

He took a picture of the girl with her eyes so bloodshot they appeared black.

Fournier's photo went around the world and he said that the girl had been 'facing death with courage and dignity', remembering that she started to hallucinate and asked the photographer to take her to school as she was scared she would be late.

The Nevado del Ruiz volcano killed thousands in Colombia when it erupted in 1985. (JOAQUIN SARMIENTO/AFP via Getty Images)

The photographer remembered that afterwards some people asked him: "Why didn't you help her? Why didn't you get her out?"

He explained to the BBC that 'it was impossible' to rescue the girl, saying: "There was an outcry - debates on television on the nature of the photojournalist, how much he or she is a vulture.

"But I felt the story was important for me to report and I was happier that there was some reaction; it would have been worse if people had not cared about it.

"I am very clear about what I do and how I do it, and I try to do my job with as much honesty and integrity as possible.

"I believe the photo helped raise money from around the world in aid and helped highlight the irresponsibility and lack of courage of the country's leaders.

"There was an obvious lack of leadership. There were no evacuation plans, yet scientists had foreseen the catastrophic extent of the volcano's eruption.

"People still find the picture disturbing. This highlights the lasting power of this little girl. I was lucky that I could act as a bridge to link people with her. It's the magic of the thing."