Rescuers retrieve one of two men trapped in flooded German cave

Rescue

Grabenstetten (Germany), July 29, 2019 (dpa/NAN) One of the two men trapped in a flooded cave in Germany’s Swabian Alps region has been rescued, the leader of the mountain search and rescue team told dpa on Monday.

The second man was expected to be rescued later, with police, saying on Twitter that, he was being looked after by rescue divers.

The men, a cave guide and one of his clients, had become trapped around 650 metres into the Falkenstein Cave in Baden Wuerttemberg state after River Elsach waters, which flows through the cave, rose suddenly.

“Four divers managed to reach the men on Sunday and found them in good health, rescue team leader, Michael Hottinger, said.

“The men were given thermal blankets and warm food, but an immediate rescue was not possible because of the strength of the current, leaving the operation delayed until Monday.’’

Hottinger said the two men had been foolish to go into the cave when they did.

The poor weather conditions and strong rain meant they should have known that waters could rise and they risked being trapped.

The Falkenstein Cave is a popular tourist destination in the mountainous Swabian Alps.

“The local tourism website warns that it can be dangerous and that only the first 20 metres are allowed to be accessed without a guide unless prior approval has been granted by local authorities. (dpa/NAN)
YI/AIB
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Edited by Yahaya Isah/Abdulfatah Babatunde