One hundred hours after a 7.9 magnitude earthquake devastated the province of Sichuan, Liu Deyun was one of the last people to be saved. His rescue cost him his left leg and he has found rebuilding his life a struggle.

As China marks the first anniversary of the disaster he cannot conceal his joy at being alive, however. “There was no question — I was happy to lose my leg to keep my life,” he said.

A year ago The Times watched as rescuers fought to extract Mr Liu while those around him perished. The crevice in the ruins where he was trapped was so cramped that only one firefighter could crawl in beside him.

During the rescue a decision had to be made about whether to amputate, and his daughter was called to offer words of reassurance.

The firefighter who performed the amputation in three minutes — without anaesthetic and under the direction of a surgeon who was unable to get close to Mr Liu — remains distraught. Even an emotional televised reunion did not convince Xu Bo that he did the right thing.

Mr Liu, who is able to walk unaided, feels differently. “I will be forever grateful to him,” he said.

Mr Liu attributes his survival to his ability to stay calm, to being able to watch videos of his family on his two mobile telephones and his will to live. “I have learnt to drive again and I want to go back into the transport business,” he said.

He has applied for one of the lowinterest bank loans that are available to quake survivors, but nearly one month on he is still waiting for the Agricultural Bank of China to decide, while his neighbours have obtained the 30,000 yuan (£3,000) that the Government has allocated per family.

He knows that because of his disability the bank will consider his application a risk, but he is optimistic. “I am sure the money will come. And if it doesn’t I will find another way to get the cash to rebuild my house and buy a second-hand van,” he said.

Nothing remains of Mr Liu’s home, which collapsed when the tremor struck the mountainous region at 2.28pm on May 12 last year, killing nearly 90,000 people and leaving 5 million homeless.

Local authorities are under pressure to rebuild without compromising safety standards.

The authorities have done their utmost to silence parents who suspect that shoddy work was to blame for many of the 5,335 deaths when 3,000 schools in the region collapsed. The parents have been told not to mourn the anniversary individually or they will face prison.

Wen Jiabao, the Chinese Prime Minister, who flew to the earthquake zone within hours of it happening, has ordered the resettlement to be completed within two years.

China is so determined to return to normal quickly that it has accepted international assistance. The Red Cross has started its biggest operation yet in China, helping to rebuild 100,000 homes and 660 schools.

In Sanquan village, rows of government-designed terraced homes were the first to be completed by the international aid agency.

Each family is entitled to 15,000 yuan from the Red Cross, 16,000 yuan in Government aid and low-interest bank loans. Chinese banks have given loans totalling £19.8 billion to help with rebuilding.

Li Min moved into his threebedroom home with his first indoor toilet in January. “My old house was just made of bricks, but this building has proper pillar supports and a roof structure,” he said.

Francis Markus, of the Red Cross, said that the government response was impressive, but noted that the elderly and disabled may have to wait longer. China’s red tape makes it difficult for banks to exercise flexibility for those who do not fall into familiar categories.

Mr Liu, who was one of only three people to be rescued from a building in which 88 died, refuses to be disheartened. “I used to be one of the best-off people in the village. Now everyone else has got back on their feet and I’m left behind. But I don’t mind. I understand that I have a disability,” he said.

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