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Emergency services in Italy have successfully rescued a cave explorer who was injured and trapped underground for over three days following a fall, bringing relief to Italians who had been anxiously analyzing her situation.
Ottavia Piana, the 32 year old woman, was carried out of the cave on a stretcher just before 3 a.m. (0200 GMT) on Wednesday and airlifted to a hospital in the northern city of Bergamo after a 75-hour rescue operation.
Piana have got injuries to her back and ribs, along with suspected fractures to her face bones and knee after falling approximately eight meters in the Abisso Bueno Fonteno cave system on Saturday.
Rescuers reported that she was conscious but very tired and in visible pain when she was brought to the surface, located about four kilometers (2.5 miles) from the entrance of the cave.
Federico Catania, from the mountain and cave rescue team CNSAS, said that the operation was completed more rapidly than expected, thanks in part to specialized teams who used little explosive charges to clear waste.
''The speleologist (cave explorer) also did her part, demonstrating great resilience. Previously we had often stopped for medical breaks, to allow her to rest, but in the last hours she was able to hold out," he told RTL 102.5 radio.
Piana, who is an experienced speleologist, suffered a similar ordeal in July 2023 when she was trapped in the same cave network for around 40 hours after another accident.
Her second rescue in less than 18 months has sparked some criticism in Italy but Catania refused to join those who have accused Piana of recklessness, saying she had the right equipment and knowledge to explore the caves again.
"We can perhaps judge when it is inexperienced behaviour, but this does not apply in this case," he elaborated further.
"I can say that this was an unfortunate situation."