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Friends and relatives of a Belgian speleologist breathe a sigh of relief after four anxious days and three nights. Because that’s how long it took until the man could be rescued from a French ravine, while the entire region was flooded by severe weather.
The 60-year-old Belgian speleologist decided last Tuesday, despite the inclement weather forecast, to descend into the canyon of the Maglia River in Breil-sur-Roya anyway. It was overcast and rain was expected. The spelunker already sent a worried message to a friend: “If you haven’t heard from me by 8 p.m., sound the alarm.” He also clarified that he had left his camper in the valley and had hitchhiked to the canyon. His trip would end up taking no less than four days as the 60-year-old man got stuck in the canyon.
His friends soon raised the alarm and the police launched a search operation. Meanwhile, the region was ravaged by severe weather. Schools were even closed due to the heavy rains. Consequently, the river in the ravine where the speleologist was stuck had suddenly become much larger.
It finally took until Friday, when it cleared, to find the man. Rescuers were able to re-enter the canyon, receiving help from a helicopter that found the man in the morning.
“He was on a fairly steep slope. He had climbed to safety,” emergency services said. The man was trapped about 100 meters above the water. He was only slightly hypothermic, tired and hungry, but he had suffered no other injuries. He therefore did not need to be taken to the hospital after this madcap adventure.
