A cave exploration in Sardinia turned into a 26-hour ordeal after a rockslide trapped a 31-year-old man underground, leaving rescuers racing to reach him.
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Luca Olmetto was exploring Gorroppeddu cave in the Urzulei mountains on Sunday, 11 October, when falling rocks blocked the passage. His girlfriend, who was a few metres behind him, escaped the collapse and raised the alarm. Trapped around 10 metres underground, Olmetto remained conscious as rescue teams worked through the night to reach him.
A painstaking rescue
Around 48 specialists from Sardinia’s Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps joined firefighters and civil protection personnel in the operation. With the passage blocked by rubble and the risk of further collapses, rescuers had to remove debris carefully by hand.
After approximately 26 hours underground, Olmetto was brought to the surface shortly after 6pm on Monday, 12 October. Medical teams treated him before he was airlifted to hospital for further assessment.
A narrow escape
News of the rescue brought relief to Olmetto’s hometown of Codrongianos, where the local council expressed its support for him and his family and thanked the emergency teams involved.
The incident highlights the risks of exploring caves, where unstable rock and narrow passages can quickly turn an adventure into a life-threatening situation. For Olmetto, reaching the surface marked the end of more than a day trapped beneath the Sardinian mountains.
Source (The Guardian)
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