Nightmare over: speleologist (20) freed after 12 hours trapped with leg under rock

©Francesco Ungaro via Unsplash

There has been a breakthrough in the dire situation in which a speleologist found himself in a cave in northern Italy.

A 20-year-old speleologist was rescued in Italy after 12 hours from the "Grotta dei Cinghiali Volanti" in the northern province of Cuneo in the Piedmont region. The man was trapped there during an exploration trip. Immediately, a large-scale rescue operation was launched. According to local media and emergency services, the operation was difficult, but rescuers eventually managed to pull him to safety.

The man was part of a group of cavers who were exploring the cave. At a depth of about 120 meters, however, a piece of rock came loose and his leg ended up under a boulder. The 20-year-old speleologist was unable to climb back up himself. His companions returned to the surface and raised the alarm.

The cave is located in Rocca d'Orse-Val d'Inferno, a popular area with cavers. The young speleologist was at a depth of about 120 meters in the underground cave system when he became trapped with his leg under a heavy boulder. The depth and his position made the rescue particularly complicated. Indeed, rescuers had to make their way through narrow passageways, with limited room to move and difficult access. Special salvage and caving teams were called in to guide him step-by-step from under the boulder and then out of the cave.

The rescue operation took a total of about 12 hours and started at about 5 p.m. on Sunday. In the process, the rescuers had to take into account not only the physical obstacles in the cave, but also the condition of the man himself. After all, his leg had been crushed by a boulder.

According to Italian reports, after being freed, the man was exhausted but conscious and in a stable condition. He was transferred to the hospital. Not much has yet been disclosed about his identity and the exact cause of the incident.

The Grotta dei Cinghiali Volanti is located in t hemountainous part of Piedmont, a region in northwestern Italy known for its rugged landscape and underground natural formations. Cave explorations regularly attract caving enthusiasts to the area, but rescue services have long warned that such treks can be dangerous without proper preparation and equipment.

©Francesco Ungaro via Unsplash - illustration image of a cave