Rescuers pull trapped man alive from cave in Sardinia after 26 hours

A 31-year-old man was rescued alive from a cave on the Italian island of Sardinia on Monday after being trapped for 26 hours, according to the Guardian. Emergency services pulled Luca Olmetto from the underground site following a complex rescue operation. [1]

The Guardian reported that the incident occurred after a rockslide hit on Sunday afternoon. Mr Olmetto was trapped approximately 10 metres below ground inside the Gorroppeddu cave, which is located in the Urzulei mountain range in central-eastern Sardinia. He was exploring the cave alongside his girlfriend, who was a few metres behind him and narrowly escaped the collapse. [1]

Sardinia is a mountainous island with a population of about 1.58 million people. The region features rugged terrain and a mountainous interior dominated by granite formations. [3]

Rescue teams worked without stopping to reach Mr Olmetto after the collapse blocked his path. The Guardian reported that he was pulled out alive after spending 26 hours trapped below the surface. [1]