A Lynn University student from Wilmette who had been missing since the 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti has been reported safe, according to a university spokesman.

Paul Tyska contacted the American embassy in Port-au-Prince and his parents have been informed he is alive.

Tyska was one of twelve students and two faculty members initially reported missing. Two additional students, Nikki Santauzzi and Daniela Montealegre were also reported safe.

Each student's parents were informed via email from the consular section of the American embassy in Haiti.

The university could not confirm whether the students were together at their hotel when the earthquake struck.

"Just based on their agenda," said the spokesperson, "that is where they would have been at the time the earthquake struck."

As of 2 p.m., Lynn University's insurance provider had dispatched two helicopters from the Dominican Republic to provide aid and secure the safe return of the students, according to the spokesperson.

"We did not select or personally hire this group," said the spokesperson, saying that the heli-based teams were hired by Lynn University's international travel insurer.

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