Rescuers work to save Italian caver injured 585m underground

[paul]

Rescuers work to save Italian caver injured 585m underground. See https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...ver-trapped-585m-underground-rescue-operation

 

[JoshW]

second time this person is being rescued from the same cave

 

[aricooperdavis]

> who is conscious and feeling better “even from a psychological and moral standpoint”

I really like that reporting, it immediately brings you back to the human element - how must it feel to seriously injure yourself in such a remote place? The rescue operation looks very impressive, best of luck to them all!

 

[pwhole]

She's said she's packing in caving after this.

 

[martinr]

from La Stampa December 17, 2024 Updated at10:26
"Ottavia Piana's nightmare, the rescuers: estimated 36/48 hours for the speleologist's exit from the cave"

 

[martinr]

from La Stampa December 17, 2024 Updated at10:26
"Ottavia Piana's nightmare, the rescuers: estimated 36/48 hours for the speleologist's exit from the cave"

Ottavia Piana 's health conditions are stable and the stretcher, very slowly, is advancing in the tunnels of the Bueno Fonteno abyss . After the third night, the rescue operations are proceeding without a hitch and currently, after having traveled two kilometers from the point where the 32-year-old from Adro fell on Saturday evening , the group of rescuers with the young speleologist are in the known and mapped part of the cave.

According to what was reported by the Giornale di Brescia , from where the stretcher is now, it takes about two hours to reach the main branch, another 30 minutes to exit. However, these are the exit times in normal conditions. In the current conditions, however, the journey is estimated at about 36/48 hours . The movement is in fact marked by an hour and a half of transport and an hour of break, to provide medical assistance to the woman.

Last Saturday Ottavia fell due to a subsidence of the ground, a hole that was created under her feet in a point from which the speleologist colleagues who were with her had passed shortly before . There were ten of them in the cave and they were working on the «Progetto Sebino», «a very ambitious research project that aims, over a sufficiently long period of time, to set up and activate a study that is as complete as possible, trying to investigate all the most relevant scientific aspects», explains the official portal.

The Bueno Fonteno Abyss, in the mountain area between Lakes Iseo and Endine, was discovered only a few years ago and immediately aroused the interest of scientists : it extends for about 90 square kilometers in the territory of about fifteen municipalities of Bergamo and hides a system of caves that extends for over 100 kilometers. The first explorations also brought to light the presence of animal species that have adapted to the environment.

Up to this point, 126 Alpine and Speleological Rescue technicians have been involved, forming 5 rescue teams: some are dedicated to transporting the stretcher, others to anticipate its passage by clearing sections that could later prove problematic - also with the use of small explosive charges.

The accident that happened to Ottavia 17 months after the last time, according to her companions was [fate]. "Ottavia is an expert and very cautious instructor - said yesterday Giorgio Pannuzzo, of the Lombardy Speleological Alpine Rescue, who was with her in the cave on Saturday - . The fact that two accidents happened to her is just a huge misfortune".

In total, 126 Alpine and Speleological Rescue technicians are working to rescue Ottavia, coming from Lombardy, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Marche, Piedmont, Trentino-Alto Adige, Tuscany, Umbria and Veneto, plus an additional team arriving from Sardinia. So far, five rescue teams have worked : some dedicated to transporting the stretcher, others to anticipate its passage by clearing, even with the use of small explosive charges, sections that could later prove problematic. The sixth team is expected to enter this evening, the seventh tomorrow. Ottavia should see the light again tomorrow evening .

The previous accident

Already last July 2023 she had been stuck inside the same cave , more or less in the same area. After that accident - for which it took 48 hours to be brought out - she had nevertheless resumed her activity as a speleologist.

edit: google translate originally suggested "The accident that happened to Ottavia 17 months after the last time, according to her companions was a fatality", obviously a better translation would be "The accident that happened to Ottavia 17 months after the last time, according to her companions was fate"

 

[Joe Duxbury]

'Ottavia fell due to a subsidence of the ground, a hole that was created under her feet in a point from which the speleologist colleagues who were with her had passed shortly before.'
This sounds familiar, eh George?

 

[mikem]

They have got her out after 75 hours total

 

[martinr]

They have got her out after 75 hours total

https://www-lastampa-it.translate.g...SHHD-HT&_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en

 

[mikem]

"The unexpected acceleration at the last kilometer. Eight hours without ever stopping."

 

[ChrisJC]

From here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c878en33yd8o
I enjoyed this bit:
"They had to navigate narrow tunnels and at times use small explosive charges to get her out." - the explosives bit reminded me of cave exploration in Yorkshire - if it's not big enough, blow it up.

Chris.

 

[Space Doubt Caver]

From here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c878en33yd8o
I enjoyed this bit:
"They had to navigate narrow tunnels and at times use small explosive charges to get her out." - the explosives bit reminded me of cave exploration in Yorkshire - if it's not big enough, blow it up.

Chris.

PMSL coz it's true gotta love t'Yorkshire lot

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I wonder if it was the same leg that she broke both times????

Surprised that they were using explosives, would have thought the fumes would be an issue with so many in the cave, (maybe there's a strong draught)

 

[Pitlamp]

I wonder if they merely did some capping and it got embellished by the media.

 

[ChrisJC]

Caps are small explosive charges. Perhaps the 'capping' terminology is a bit niche.

Chris.

 

[Pitlamp]

Strictly speaking I think they are pyrotechical items, not actual "explosives".

 

[georgenorth]

Strictly speaking I think they are pyrotechical items, not actual "explosives".

My understanding is that this is a legal distinction in the UK, rather than a practical one (i.e. caps definitely explode, even if legally they aren’t explosive ).

 

[Pitlamp]

There are some things which are perhaps better discussed over a pint, for reasons that (understandably) may not have crossed everyone's minds.

 

[georgenorth]

Fair enough Pitlamp - it’s well off-topic anyhow!

 

[Pitlamp]