UT student believed to be safe in Haiti

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Friends and family of University of Texas graduate student Lynn Selby, feared missing in Haiti, breathed huge sighs of relief Thursday night. A Facebook post and confirmation from state officials gave them reason to believe the 35-year-old is alive and well.

"Last night I had to finally just shut the news off because I couldn't see any more images," said Heather Teague, a good friend of Lynn's and fellow classmate.

Teague knew Lynn was in the country's capital doing research for her dissertation, but as of Thursday afternoon no one had heard from the anthropology student.

"We knew she had a background in medicine and public health, so we were hoping we hadn't heard from her because she was out in the streets helping," said Teague.

Thursday night just before 6 p.m. the following Facebook post popped up:

"Lynn is ok with minor injury. I'm a friend in Haiti and just saw her at the US Embassy. She's trying to get evacuated."

Lynn's good friend, and former UT student Mike Werckle spotted the message and figured she gave someone in Haiti her username and password to post the update so many had been waiting to read.

Werckle called Selby's sister in California to pass the promising message along. The student's family had also received word from someone with the state that Lynn had been spotted in good condition.

"She had minor injuries, and the injuries were minor enough that I guess the first thing Lynn did was volunteer for search and rescue," said Werckel.

The news was not surprising to those who know Lynn well, and know her passion for the people there. The 35-year-old lived in Haiti as a young girl for her father's job, and she is fluent in Haitian Creole.

Classmates who studied with her said Lynn has been working with women in health clinics in Port-au-Prince since 2008, and also teaching computer skills.

Teague and Werckle waited for responses after posting Lynn's photo and address on CNN's iReport. Concerns about her safety spread from one Twitter page to another, as follower after follower passed the posts along, hoping the messages would reach Haiti.

Now that fear of the worst is over for Lynn's circle of family and friends, their hearts still go out to those who still long for answers.

"She's of course one of hundreds of thousands who are in this position," said Teague. 'It's very difficult."

Lynn is expected to evacuate from Port-au-Prince in the next several days. As of Thursday evening, family was still waiting to hear from Lynn's roommate from the University of Chicago.