Overview

• A 62-year-old speleologist was trapped by falling rocks more than 130 feet below the entrance of Abisso Paperino cave in Piedmont after sustaining a head injury.
• The Italian National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps located the injured explorer and determined he could not self-extricate due to his condition.
• Rescue teams employed controlled explosive charges at three critical narrow passages to widen the route and carry the man upward.
• Abisso Paperino extends nearly 600 feet underground and houses a notable fossil gallery, highlighting the cave’s geological complexity and risks.
• Following the operation, the speleologist was brought to the surface for medical evaluation, prompting renewed emphasis on safety protocols for cave expeditions.