Cell phones save patient during surgery power outage

A team of mobile phones became a makeshift light source over the weekend when the power went out during an emergency surgery.

Doctors in a small hospital in the middle of Argentina were performing an emergency appendectomy when the power was suddenly cut off, according to Reuters. The generator also failed, leaving the surgical team in total darkness with the patient's anesthesia wearing thin. For 20 minutes, surgeons and anesthetists were unable to do anything, when some creative minds outside the operating room had an idea.

In the nearby waiting room, "A family member got some cell phones together from people in the hallway and took them in to provide light," said a hospital spokesperson in an interview with local TV station "TN".

The power reportedly remained out for a total of around one hour. The surgery was a success.