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| Injured explorer rescued from Germany's deepest cave after 12 days | Injured explorer rescued from Germany's deepest cave after 12 days |
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| An explorer who got injured at the bottom of Germany's deepest cave 12 days ago has re-emerged after a rescue operation that could lead to the Riesending cave complex being closed for good. | An explorer who got injured at the bottom of Germany's deepest cave 12 days ago has re-emerged after a rescue operation that could lead to the Riesending cave complex being closed for good. |
| Bavarian mountain rescue authorities confirmed that Johann Westhauser had emerged at the top of the cave at 11.44am local time. | Bavarian mountain rescue authorities confirmed that Johann Westhauser had emerged at the top of the cave at 11.44am local time. |
| The logistics of the rescue mission, involving 728 people from five countries and estimated to cost several million euros, has captured the imagination of the German public since climbers arrived at the site of the accident last Friday. | The logistics of the rescue mission, involving 728 people from five countries and estimated to cost several million euros, has captured the imagination of the German public since climbers arrived at the site of the accident last Friday. |
| On Sunday 8 June, Westhauser suffered a fall at a depth of around 950 metres and a distance of four miles (6.5km). | On Sunday 8 June, Westhauser suffered a fall at a depth of around 950 metres and a distance of four miles (6.5km). |
| Originally it was expected that the rescue mission would be finished on Wednesday night, but it was delayed by complications during the final stretch, a 180-metre-deep vertical shaft through which the explorer had to be pulled on a winch. | Originally it was expected that the rescue mission would be finished on Wednesday night, but it was delayed by complications during the final stretch, a 180-metre-deep vertical shaft through which the explorer had to be pulled on a winch. |
| According to the mountain rescue services, the mission employed a manual pulley system in the final phase, with members of the rescue team reportedly abseiling down as a counterweight to the stretcher carrying Westhauser. | According to the mountain rescue services, the mission employed a manual pulley system in the final phase, with members of the rescue team reportedly abseiling down as a counterweight to the stretcher carrying Westhauser. |
| A mobile emergency unit has been awaiting Westhauser, 52, at the cave entrance. According to the doctor Nico Petterich, he will be given dark sunglasses to help him get accustomed to the bright light. Doctors will then assess the state of his health to decide which clinic he should be transferred to. | |
| The local authorities, for whom the media attention has caused numerous headaches, are likely to see consequences from the accident: next week, the local council will vote on closing down the cave for good. | The local authorities, for whom the media attention has caused numerous headaches, are likely to see consequences from the accident: next week, the local council will vote on closing down the cave for good. |
| "The danger of future missions in the Riesending cave is just too great," said Thomas Weber, the mayor of the Bischofswiesen district. "The extreme public accessibility has led us to submit a request for the closure of the cave". | "The danger of future missions in the Riesending cave is just too great," said Thomas Weber, the mayor of the Bischofswiesen district. "The extreme public accessibility has led us to submit a request for the closure of the cave". |