Scientist rescued from underground cave in Peru after 12 days

A Spanish cave explorer has been rescued after spending 12 days trapped about 400 metres (1,300ft) underground in a cave in Peru’s remote Amazon region. Rescuers brought Cecilio Lopez out of the mouth of Inti Machay cave, in Leimebamba, to cheers from an international team of 107 people who joined in the effort to get him out after he was injured deep in the cave. The rescuers, who included 58 Spaniards, hugged each other in excitement.

Cecilio Lopez is lying face up. He can move laterally but he cannot stand up.

Rescue coordinator James Apaestegui, speaking during the rescue operation before Lopez was freed

Doctors previously diagnosed the 44-year-old speleologist as having two injured lumbar vertebrae and he was carried into a tent and kept lying on the rescue stretcher. Peruvian civil defence officials said he would be flown by an air force helicopter to Lima.

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