Trapped caver rescued after 20-hour ordeal

A man was rescued today after being trapped more than 250 feet underground for almost 20 hours.

The Polish caver became caught in a crevasse in Pollprughlish Cavea in Co Fermanagh – close to the Marble Arch Caves outside Enniskillen which are popular with tourists.

Drills and explosives had to be used to get him out, said police.

The man, who lives in Ireland, became trapped in the cave close to the Co Fermanagh-Co Cavan border at around 10am yesterday – but it was not until around dawn today that he was finally freed.

Despite his lengthy ordeal he was uninjured and needed no hospital treatment.

Two colleagues who were caving with him raised the alarm with gardaí at Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, on Sunday evening and they contacted the Police Service of Northern Ireland in Enniskillen.

The Irish Cave Rescue Organisation, assisted by the PSNI search and rescue team were sent in.

They managed to free the man at around 4.30am today and bring him to the surface.