Brief
Italian speleologist rescued after 27‑hour cave entrapment in Sardinia
Rescue teams spent over a day clearing debris to reach the 31‑year‑old speleologist.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Speleologist Luca Olmetto, 31, was rescued alive on Oct. 12 after being trapped for almost 27 hours in the Gorropeddu cave on Sardinia, Italy, nypost.com reported.
The rockslide occurred at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 11, sealing the cave entrance and trapping Olmetto more than 32 feet deep. His girlfriend, who was just behind him, escaped and summoned help. Around 100 rescuers – including 48 members of Sardinia’s Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps, 30 firefighters and civil‑protection staff – worked through the night and the following evening, removing debris by hand to avoid triggering another slide.
Rescuers reached Olmetto just before 6 p.m. on Oct. 12. He remained conscious throughout the operation. Salvatore Corrao, commander of the Nuoro fire department, told L’Unione Sarda that Olmetto “held on until the end” and encouraged the team. Manuela Mulargia of the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps added that he was “great” and motivated rescuers.
After being air‑lifted to a hospital, Olmetto was placed in intensive care. The Barbagia Local Health Authority said he suffered severe blunt trauma to a lower limb but no fractures. His hometown of Codrongianos posted a message of relief on Facebook, thanking rescuers for their tireless effort.
Key facts
- Luca Olmetto was trapped in Sardinia's Gorropeddu cave for nearly 27 hours. (nypost.com)
- Rescue teams of about 100 people worked from Oct. 11 to Oct. 12 to free him. (nypost.com)
- Olmetto was air‑lifted to hospital with severe blunt trauma but no fractures. (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “Italian man rescued alive from a cave after being trapped for nearly 27 hours”
