One of the UK's longest cave rescue operations has ended safely after 250 volunteers came together from across the country.
One of the UK's longest cave rescue operations has ended safely after 250 volunteers came together from across the country to put their caving expertise to the test.
"It's a question of all hands to the pump - all the other teams rally round to work on a mutual problem." According to the South Wales Caving Club, its size and very technical nature make it "challenging even for experienced cavers". But the challenge facing cave teams was how to bring him out safely - through the underground system's labyrinthine passages. Jobs were allocated to rescuers - such as getting medical supplies and specialist equipment down to the injured man.
"But when people are immobilised they have to be put on a stretcher and brought out by a team of 10 or so people. Communication between the rescuers and those above ground was possible through a system called "Cave Link" which allows messages to be transmitted through rock via the water particles in the limestone - a system Mr Taylor describes as "absolutely revolutionary in this incident".By Monday morning, more than 36 hours after the man became trapped, Julian Carter - who works for National Museum Wales - was joking how they "should all be in work now".
Allan Berry, chairman of Derbyshire Cave Rescue, led a team of 18 to the Brecon Beacons. "It's a 3D maze down there," he says - with teams having to swap regularly because of the sheer physical effort. The distance in a straight line may not be huge, but the terrain is extremely difficult."Through squeezes and up waterfalls - and sometimes you have to bring the stretcher up vertically using ropes.