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Injured Researcher Pulled From Deep Alpine Cave German Researcher Is Rescued From Deep Alpine Cave
(34 minutes later)
BERCHTESGADEN, Germany — International rescuers pulled an injured German researcher up the final 180 meters, or 590 feet, of a vertical shaft in Germany’s deepest cavern early Thursday, bringing an end to days of painstaking efforts to carry, pull and ease him to the surface.BERCHTESGADEN, Germany — International rescuers pulled an injured German researcher up the final 180 meters, or 590 feet, of a vertical shaft in Germany’s deepest cavern early Thursday, bringing an end to days of painstaking efforts to carry, pull and ease him to the surface.
Johann Westhauser, 52, had been exploring the depths of an alpine cavern known in German as the Riesending, or Big Thing, on June 8 when he was struck on the head by a rock about 1,000 meters below the surface of the mountain. A fellow explorer was able to get back to the surface three days later to alarm authorities, who launched a rescue effort. Johann Westhauser, 52, had been exploring the depths of an alpine cavern known as the Riesending, or Big Thing, on June 8 when he was struck on the head by a rock about 1,000 meters below the surface of the mountain. A fellow explorer was able to get back to the surface three days later to alert the authorities, who launched a rescue effort.
Dozens of climbers and rescue workers from across Europe arrived at the mountain, near Germany’s border with Austria, to carry out a rescue effort that involved at times carrying astretcher by hand and lifting it via a pulley through the inky darkness of the cavern. Dozens of climbers and rescue workers from across Europe arrived at the mountain, near Germany’s border with Austria, to help in a rescue effort that involved at times carrying a stretcher by hand and lifting it via a pulley through the inky darkness of the cavern.
After stopping to rest at the final of five bivouacs established at intervals along the way, Mr. Westhauser was lifted to safety through the final, narrow shaft to the surface of the mountain. He was treated by teams of doctors who set up an emergency medical station in containers near the mouth of the cave. After an initial assessment, he was to be transported by helicopter to a nearby hospital. After stopping to rest at the last of five bivouacs established at intervals along the way, Mr. Westhauser was lifted to safety through the final, narrow shaft to the surface of the mountain. He was treated by teams of doctors who set up an emergency medical station in containers near the mouth of the cave. After an initial assessment, he was to be transported by helicopter to a nearby hospital.
A doctor from Italy, who is also a mountain climber, accompanied Mr. Westhauser through the final days of his ascent. Other spelunkers, climbers and mountain rescue teams from neighboring Austria, Croatia and Switzerland have been working deep beneath the mountain in the effort to rescue their colleague. A doctor from Italy, who is also a mountain climber, accompanied Mr. Westhauser through the final days of his ascent. Other spelunkers, climbers and mountain rescue teams from Austria, Croatia and Switzerland worked deep beneath the mountain in the effort to rescue their colleague.
The Riesending cave, north of Berchtesgaden, stretches more than 19 kilometers, or 12 miles, cutting vertically and horizontally into the mountain. It was only discovered in the mid-1990s. Mr. Westhauser, one of Germany’s most experienced cave researchers, had explored it several times and helped map it in 2002. The Riesending cave, north of Berchtesgaden, stretches more than 19 kilometers, or 12 miles, cutting vertically and horizontally into the mountain. It was discovered only in the mid-1990s. Mr. Westhauser, one of Germany’s most experienced cave researchers, had explored it several times and helped map it in 2002.