Speleologist trapped in cave in Sardinia reached by rescuers

Luca Olmetto, the speleologist trapped for 24 hours in the Gorropeddu cave, in Urzulei, was reached by rescuers who dug by hand to reach the tunnel where the 31-year-old from Codrongianos is stuck.

Olmetto is conscious and has trauma and wounds. Now the rescuers are proceeding with extreme care to free him from the landslide that overwhelmed and immobilized him. The operations are complex because there is the risk of new collapses.

His name is Luca Olmetto and he is from Codrongianos (Sassari), the 31-year-old speleologist who has been trapped for almost 24 hours due to a landslide in the Gorropeddu cave, in Urzulei, in Ogliastra. He is alive and conscious and the rescuers, around 80 people including the Alpine and Speleological Rescue of Sardinia, specialized firefighters Usar-M, Saf and Tas, and the civil protection of Dorgali, managed to contact him by voice beyond the pile of debris that closes the entrance to the tunnel where he was stuck. Since yesterday we have been racing against time to save him but operations are made difficult by the unstable and unstable terrain and every step forward must be made by securing the rocky walls of the cave, the main entrance of which was only freed this morning. "These are hours of great apprehension for the entire community of Codrongianos, which is following with concern the news arriving from Urzulei, where our fellow citizen Luca Olmetto was trapped in a cave - the municipality says in a social post - As the municipal administration we are in contact with the municipality of Urzulei and we are closely following the evolution of the situation, with the hope of receiving good news soon. Our thoughts go to Luca and his family, while a big thank you goes to all the rescuers who are working tirelessly to bring him back to safety. Come on Luca, all of Codrongianos is with you!"