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Cave Survivor Pulled Alive After 26 Hours
12 Oct
Summary
- A man was trapped 10 meters underground for 26 hours.
- Rescuers worked for hours to remove debris blocking the cave.
- The explorer was conscious and responsive throughout the ordeal.
A 31-year-old man, Luca Olmetto, has been successfully rescued from the Gorroppeddu cave in Sardinia after being trapped for 26 hours. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon when a rockslide caused by a collapse blocked the cave entrance, leaving Olmetto approximately 10 meters below ground.
Olmetto was exploring the cave with his girlfriend, who narrowly avoided the collapse and immediately alerted authorities. Rescuers, comprising about 48 experts from the Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps, 30 firefighters, and civil protection staff, engaged in a complex operation to free him. They manually removed rubble and earth blocking a narrow passage.
Throughout the ordeal, Olmetto remained conscious and responsive. By late Monday afternoon, the rescue team managed to reach him. Medical staff stabilized him after his extraction just after 6 PM CET before he was airlifted to a hospital. The local community in Codrongianos expressed great relief and thanked the diligent rescuers.