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| Cornwall mine-plunge man 'was saved by rucksack | Cornwall mine-plunge man 'was saved by rucksack |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A walker who plunged more than 50ft (15m) down a mineshaft says a rucksack cushioned his fall and saved his life. | A walker who plunged more than 50ft (15m) down a mineshaft says a rucksack cushioned his fall and saved his life. |
| Andrew Williams, 51, from Wales, was trapped for hours after falling down the disused shaft near St Just in Cornwall on Sunday. | Andrew Williams, 51, from Wales, was trapped for hours after falling down the disused shaft near St Just in Cornwall on Sunday. |
| He said he was "amazed" he survived the fall which saw him end up on a narrow ledge. | |
| Mr Williams was airlifted to hospital with a broken pelvis after a six-hour rescue operation. | Mr Williams was airlifted to hospital with a broken pelvis after a six-hour rescue operation. |
| More on the mine rescue, and other Devon and Cornwall news | More on the mine rescue, and other Devon and Cornwall news |
| Mr Williams had been walking with a group of people when he went to explore the mine opening in the Cot Valley. | Mr Williams had been walking with a group of people when he went to explore the mine opening in the Cot Valley. |
| But a wooden cover gave way and he fell onto the ledge. | But a wooden cover gave way and he fell onto the ledge. |
| He put his survival "down to a full rucksack that took the brunt of the impact and saving me from banging my head". | He put his survival "down to a full rucksack that took the brunt of the impact and saving me from banging my head". |
| Rescuers led by volunteers Cornwall Search and Rescue brought Mr Williams to safety through a narrow "hourglass" gap. | |
| He said the "professionalism and knowledge" of the rescue teams was "amazing" and thanked them for "without a doubt saving my life". | He said the "professionalism and knowledge" of the rescue teams was "amazing" and thanked them for "without a doubt saving my life". |
| He had "many dark moments" during the ordeal but focusing on his family and friends "got me through it", he said. | He had "many dark moments" during the ordeal but focusing on his family and friends "got me through it", he said. |
| Mr Williams has since undergone an operation on his pelvis at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske and said he would "hopefully be back walking soon". | Mr Williams has since undergone an operation on his pelvis at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske and said he would "hopefully be back walking soon". |
| Mark Grantham, of Cornwall Search and Rescue, said: "We're very happy, having seen Mr Williams at his lowest ebb, that he is now making a good recovery and we wish him well." |