Advertisement

Seven saved after 22 hours trapped in French cave

The Local France
The Local France - [email protected]
Seven saved after 22 hours trapped in French cave
Archive photo: AFP

Seven Spanish cavers were saved from an underground chasm in the foothills of the French Pyrenees mountains after rising flood waters blocked their exit.

Advertisement

The seven were part of a group of 15 cavers who went potholing on Tuesday near the town of Herran, Haute Garonne, which is not far from the Spanish border (see map below). 

It is believed their exit was blocked by rising flood waters caused by the violent storms that hit the region in recent days.

Eight of the group were able to make it out at around 4am on Wednesday morning and raise the alarm.

Later in the day, after spending 22 hours stuck 300 metres underground, the six men and one woman were pulled to safety.

The group had been caught out by the rapid rise of water in the cave after large amounts of ice and snow melted, officials told AFP. 
   
All of the potholers are aged between 30 and 50.

 

 

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also