Sardinia, race against time to save the speleologist stuck in the cave: "Alive and conscious"

The complex rescue operations to reach and save the young 31-year-old speleologist who was trapped in the Gorropeddu cave, in the Urzulei area, in Ogliastra continued unabated throughout the night and continued this morning too. The man is about ten meters deep, isolated by a landslide which would have caused the collapse of rocky material at the entrance to the cavity, preventing him from exiting.

Despite the particularly delicate situation, encouraging signs are arriving from the contacts established by the rescuers. The teams involved in the operations, who are digging to free a safe passage, managed to speak directly with the speleologist: the man is alive, conscious and able to communicate, an element that fuels the hope of a positive conclusion to the intervention.

A massive rescue device was deployed on site. Dozens of specialists from the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps operate, supported by the firefighters. The team from the Tortolì detachment, the Alpine River Speleo units (Saf) of the provincial command of Nuoro and 16 Usar Medium operators are involved, transported to the intervention area with the support of the Air Force helicopters taken off from the Decimomannu base.

To coordinate the activities, an advanced command post was also set up near the cave, from which operations are managed and the evolution of the situation monitored. Numerous Cnsas technicians and volunteers from the Dorgali Civil Protection also work in support. The excavation and safety activities of the area continue with the utmost caution to avoid further subsidence and allow the speleologist to be recovered in the shortest possible time.