MailOnline has revealed that the cave diver, who spent 52 hours underground trapped in caves, was finally rescued.
George Linnane, a Brecon Beacons resident was finally brought out from the Ogoffynnon Ddu on Monday. After a part of the cave collapsed, Linnane suffered severe injuries on Saturday. He broke his leg, jaw, and collarbone.
Engineer from Bristol, Mr Linnane is also an avid scuba diver, and snowboarder. He was one of several cavers filming a document on Otter Hole’s history on the English-Welsh border in June and July.
His injuries aren’t life-threatening and he is being treated in a Cardiff hospital. Mr Linnane’s family, including his French girlfriend Julie Gabrielle Roussière, are believed to be at his hospital bedside.
A team of 250 rescuers worked round the clock over the weekend trying to get through small passages within an underground human chain that was broken when Linnane, a man who had fallen into a cave system 9000ft deep, fell.
After 12 hours of work to get him out, he was lifted from the OgofFynnonDdu caves on Monday at 7.45pm. He was then taken on a stretcher.
George Linnane was 38 years old, and was brought from the OgoffynonDdu in Brecon Beacons to be released on Monday.
After 12 hour shifts of work to get Mr Linnane out of OgofFynnonDdu, workers pulled him out on a stretcher at 7.45pm Monday
The rescuers of the South and Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team were pictured in OgofFynnonDdu during their rescue.
Photographs capture the rescuers maneuvering through caves to get at the man in distress.
The rescuers are seen in cramped spots while they maneuver through the caves to reach Mr Linnane.
After being lifted onto the surface, Mr Linnane was cheered, clapped, and then helped into a cave rescue Land Rover, ready to transport him down to an ambulance.
It took 57 hours to complete the operation. Images show many people wearing caving gear on the spot.
Nearly 250 emergency workers – the same team that saved 12 Thai footballers last year – took Mr Linnane by hand through narrow tunnels, surrounded with waterfalls and streams.
The caver – who is understood to be from Hampshire and was staying in a £9-a-night cottage near the entrance to the caves – fell on Saturday after a boulder came loose in a section of the network known as Cwm Dwr, Welsh for Water Valley.
A second caver was also present with Linnane Saturday, and police were notified. Specialist rescuers were called that day but could not free Linnane. It measures 37 miles long, making it Britain’s longest cave system.
Julian Carter, the warden of the rescue teams in south and mid Wales, stated that the area where the victim was injured was dark but dry. They had concentrated on keeping the patient warm, and used a floating stretcher to move him along an active stream.
“It was a difficult rescue due to the fact that this individual wasn’t in reach of our nearest entry. It was an excellent experience. Our team is very skilled at keeping patients warm while avoiding hypothermia.
Rescuers who worked 12-hour shifts to finish the task were able to say Monday that their rescuer was “in a bad mood” and that they are ‘lucky to have him with them”. The injuries he sustained aren’t life-threatening.
After being lifted onto the surface, Mr Linnane was cheered, clapped, and then helped into a cave rescue Land Rover, ready for transport to a waiting ambulance.
It took 57 hours to complete the operation. Images show many people wearing caving gear on the spot.
Nearly 250 emergency personnel – which included the group that saved 12 Thai footballers in 2018 — were involved in transporting Linnane by stretcher, through narrow caves and over waterfalls.
Cwm Dwr is Welsh for water valley. It’s located just outside the entrance to the cave where the caver was found. Because of his injuries, he couldn’t be brought back that way.
To reach Top Entrance, the rescue team had to push him along another path past cave landmarks like Marble Showers or Great Oxbow.
Seven additional specialist teams from the UK travelled to the rescue operation with equipment vans.
His rescuers said that Mr Linnane remained unconscious for “some time”. His rescuers said that he had suffered from spinal injuries and a compound fracture of his leg. They also reported mouth injuries, lacerations and injuries to his neck.
The fall of Mr Linnane was approximately 50ft. After grabbing onto the boulder, Linnane managed to get up and stop his slide. The boulder fell further, and Linnane was able to grab onto a boulder to stop him from falling even more. He was then knocked out by the boulder as it landed on top.
A rescuer stated that he was unconscious for a time, which is very concerning considering how far he had fallen. He fell with the boulder, which made matters worse.
Seven additional specialist teams traveled from all over the UK in order to help with the rescue efforts using equipment vans.
Gary Evans, an emergency services liaison officer commented on the situation of the rescued caveman. He said the man had done remarkably well considering how long it was.
“Doctors sent down with lots of pain relief. His pain relief is pretty good. He’s being managed with a nasal cannula.
After the rescue, the man was supposed to be taken by air ambulance to Morriston Hospital in Swansea. But the rain meant that the helicopter couldn’t land.
Gary Evans, an emergency services liaison officer, stated to the BBC that the casualty is doing well considering how long the caver has been trapped in it and how much time he was in the stretcher.
“He is currently being evaluated and will be able to learn more within a few minutes.
According to one rescuer, he is very lucky to have survived his fall. After being unconscious for only about one minute, he was in a great deal of pain and had to be revived. The rescuers were both accident and emergency specialists so they are in safe hands. The rescuers have administered morphine to him and fitted a cannula for fluid delivery.
Another stated that “He also became unconscious over a time period, which is worrying considering how far he fell.”
Some 250 people (pictured) helped the man get out of the cave on a stretcher, working in shifts.
Pictured: Rescue workers receive an overview of their mission before entering the cave system on Monday.
“I believe he was carrying the boulder, and that only made it worse.”
Rescuers who saved the man were provided by Gloucester Cave Rescue Group (Midlands Cave Rescue Organisation), Derbyshire Cave Rescue Organisation and Mendip Cave Rescue Organization, South East Cave Rescue Organisation and Cave Rescue Organisation.
When Wild Boars’ junior football team was trapped in Tham Luang Nang Non, the South and Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team were called upon to assist with the rescue.
After 18 days underground, the team members finally emerged from their hiding places. John Volanthen (Welsh caver) was the first person they heard.
A registered charity, the rescue group was originally established to assist cavers in exploring caves in Wales’ Neath and Swansea areas. However, it has expanded to address emergencies all across Wales.
These two were also part of the search for April Jones missing schoolgirl.
A previous statement by the cave rescue headquarters stated that: “On Saturday, a male cave diver was taking a trip into the Ogof FD cave system. He fell and sustained injuries which prevented him from exiting under his own steam.
“Another caver reported the incident to the police, and South and Mid Wales Cave Resuce teams initiated a response.
“This incident continues and includes teams from all over the UK.
“This incident continues throughout the night. The casualty is being moved to the entrance at the peak of the cave, which can be found up on the mountain.
This caver suffered possible spinal injuries after becoming unconscious. Rescue workers are seen at the cave entrance on Monday.
Pictured Monday, rescue teams gather outside Ogof Ffynnon Ddu’s cave system. It is located in an isolated area of the Brecon Beacons
Rescue was difficult because of the length of the caves, as well as the presence of underground rivers. (Photo: Monday rescuers at the cave entrance.
Teams are currently working 12-hour shifts under cold and damp conditions. Rescue missions should proceed’slowly, but carefully’
While the rescue plan was being put in place, underground medical care was provided to the caver. Other cavers also stayed with him. According to one caver, although the process will be slow and not easy for him to get out of underground medical treatment, we believe we can save his life.
“We assume that it will take 10 times more to remove him than it took to reach the spot where he was injured. It could be that it took him 3 hours to get to the area where he was hurt, and it might take us up to 30 hours to return him. It’s all about safety, and how you do it correctly.
Regular cavers said that it was a popular cave system and is very well-known among cavers. It’s also located in the middle of nature reserves. It is a popular cave system and should be preferred by more experienced cavers to novices.
Paul Francis is one of the oldest cave rescuers who took part and was responsible for the discovery parts of cave.
He stated that the incident was a single-off. “This is not a great cave system. It is Himalayan-standard by cave standards but it is a relatively safe region. This is a more frequent occurrence than being struck by a car.
According to Natural Resources Wales, the South Wales Caving Club discovered Ogof Ffynnon Du in 1946. Pictured here is are the South & Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team in the caves on a training exercise
The picture shows the entrance hole and exit hole to the cave that rescuers used in order to save the man.
Powys, in the Brecon Beacons: Rescuers were near Penwyllt. Monday’s weather was cloudy and limited visibility.
Map showing the immense case system with its many underground streams and waterfalls
On Monday, an ambulance stood ready at the scene to help any injured.
Natural Resources Wales states that the South Wales Caving Club discovered caves in 1946.
Only cavers can access them with permission from the caving club.
Guide to cave systems is described by the UK as “classic” with passages offering everything, from large chambers to beautiful formations to thundering rivers passages to screaming chasms.
The cave is accessible by numerous routes.
You are advised to be prepared for flooding in the main stream and the other cave parts. Also, the journey down the mainline is cold and slippery.
“I’m mighty glad that I’m out of there”: MailOnline unveils first words of a caver who was rescued from the Brecon Beacons after he fell. MailOnline recounts the incredible story of how the man, who had been severely injured, made it back to the surface.
Rory Tingle is the Home Affairs Correspondent for MailOnline.
The Brecon Beacons saw a caver fall 50ft to a ledge under a mountain, which was windswept. It set off an extraordinary chain of events. Rescuers across Britain rallied together to rescue him.
Some 250 cavers worked 12-hour shifts underground to get the man out the Ogoffynon Ddu cave. They navigated a maze of narrow passages that were as narrow as their shoulders, interspersed with gushing streams of waterfalls.
At 7.45pm, the nearly 57-hour-long operation was over. After exhausted rescuers brought the victim to the surface to applaud him, he was taken to hospital via ambulance.
MailOnline reported that his first words were, “I’m very glad to be outside of there.”
The injury left him with a possible spinal injury, a complicated fracture to his leg that will break both his fibula (and tibia), broken breast bone, collar bone, and broken bone, along with broken jaw and mouth injuries, and severe lacerations on his neck.
Here’s a story about how a caver that was so badly damaged was brought back to the surface.
CAVER FALLS OFF LEDGE
Saturday: Around noon
Underground up to 900 ft
At least 50 feet from the CwmDwr cave entrance, the caver is found. It is thought that he fell off a ledge and then grabbed a boulder to stop his fall.
He fell even more when the boulder gave in to his weight. He was then knocked out by the boulder as it landed on top.
According to one rescuer, he was extremely fortunate to survive the fall. After being unconscious for approximately a minute, he was extremely pain-stricken when he finally came to his feet.
The injury he sustained was suspected to be spinal. He also suffered a fracture in his pelvis, which broke both his fibula as well as his tibia.
File photo showing a fall near the cave section where the caver was lowered. It is seriously damaged.
EMERGENCYTEAMS ALERTED
Saturdays – approximately 1pm
A second caver is also present with the man injured and notifies police. They then call specialist rescuers on that day.
Rescuers arrive at the cave but are unable to move him. Aufgrund of the severity and extent of his injuries, it’s decided that he should not be allowed to evacuate from Cwn Dwr.
It was decided that he would have to be stretched through another route to get to the top at Top Entrance, a mountain spot known for its caving attractions Marble Showers and Great Oxbow.
Although there isn’t much standing water at the spot where the caver was found, the surrounding atmosphere is very cold.
First, keep him warm with blankets or heat packs. Two of the rescue team are understood to be A&E consultants.
A canula was fitted to his neck and fluids, as well as morphine and fluids are given. He is described as in his 40s, from Hampshire, and had been staying in a £9-a-night cottage near the entrance to the caves. At 37 miles in length they are Britain’s third longest.
HUNDREDS MOBILISE AVAILABLE FOR RESCUE
A huge mobilisation effort begins which sees 250 specialist rescuers, fellow cavers and mountain rescue teams flock to Ogof Ffynnon Ddu to help with the rescue.
South and Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team will lead the rescue effort. They previously saved 12 Thai soccer players and their coach in flooded caves back in July 2018.
Seven additional specialist teams are also available from the UK, as well as North Yorkshire and Essex to offer equipment and join us.
Julian Carter from the cave rescue team said, “We know how we can handle these situations.”
A rescuer said that while it would be slow, they are certain they can save him for treatment.
“We assume that it will take 10 times more to remove him than it took to reach the spot where he was injured. If it took him three hours for him to get there, it might take us thirty hours to return him.
“It is about safety and doing things correctly.
The seven other specialists teams are from all over the UK and come as far as North Yorkshire, Essex and Essex to offer their expertise. The group is pictured at the Ogof Fiynon Du cave entrance.
PAINSTAKING EVACATION
Twelve-hour shifts are required to carry the caver along a spine board over a network of two-miles of narrow passages.
After eight hours of underground crawling, one caver told The Times that it was like crawling underneath your dining room chairs.
For their own good, rescuers kept treats in their helmets.
Yesterday night rescue crews carried the caver injured on a stretcher across the cave system.
The rescue workers worked in shifts and passed the man through the cave system in a stretcher. This is the longest passageway in Britain.
They winch heavy-sedated patients up special rescue routes that have been bolted secured with ropes.
As teams transport the man through an active stream, a floating stretcher can be used.
According to rescuers, the casualty is described as being in a bad state and that he is lucky to be still with us.
Up to 70 underground members are currently involved in 250 individuals.
“I’M MIGHTLY GLUTED TO BE AWAY FROM THERE”
8.45 PM Monday, November 8
Altitude – 1,217 ft
About 56 hours, 45 minutes and 15 seconds after rescue efforts began, the victim was finally freed from the cave.
Before being taken down to a waiting ambulance, he’s cheered on by rescuers.
According to the casualty, he is a ‘good spirit’ with no life-threatening injuries. He can be heard saying “I’m mightily glad to have been out of there.”
Before being taken to the waiting ambulance, rescuers cheered and clapped the caver.
The Mountain Rescue Team can assist but the man is not able to be airlifted by helicopter due to thick fog and rain or wind.
This operation was the longest ever conducted in Wales.
There are several South Wales Ambulance Service vehicles, along with a Hazardous Area Response Team who have been specially trained to respond to large-scale situations.
Rescuers have been supplied with oxygen cylinders for entry into caves.
According to one rescuer, it was a bloody difficult task. However, it was well worth the effort. It could have been anyone of us. You are lucky to have cavers to help you save your life.
It took almost three days to complete and it was nearly 56 hours long.
Paul Taylor, another member of the caving group, stated that he could manage to speak a few words as he was being carried from the mouth to the ambulance.
He said, “I am mighty relieved that I’m out of there.”?.
“Thank God he did it. Although he was tired and had broken his leg, he didn’t move much, but he felt the relief.
Taylor claimed that rescue workers used cabling to contact the victim during the rescue operation. This was to help locate and transport him safely.
His explanation was as follows: “Cabling works by induction. It’s a little like manipulating iron filings using a magnet. This allows you to transmit text messages underground via rock even though there’s no signal.
This allowed rescue teams to evaluate his condition, keep him updated on their activities and the progress they made in getting him out.
“The men were relentless in getting him up, and we’re all very thankful to them for their heroism. His life was saved.
Three days of the most difficult operation in Wales has been completed. The original plan was for the man to be taken to hospital via an air ambulance. However, the weather prevented the helicopter from landing. Instead, the man was brought from the cave and transported by car to hospital.