A MAN who was stuck in a cave for seven hours in Co Fermanagh has been rescued and brought to safety.
The man was on the return leg of a planned caving trip on the Marlbank on the north side of Cuilcagh Mountain when disaster struck.
Cave rescue volunteers worked late into the night to free the explorer who became too tired to progress.
The alert was raised around 8.55pm on Saturday.
Local Irish Cave Rescue Organisation (ICRO) volunteers rushed to the scene at about 9.15pm, with volunteers put on alert across Ireland at 10.45pm.
ICRO chiefs explained how they created a “hot point” to help the man warm up.
They said: “ICRO reached the man quickly and assessed his condition.
“A ‘hot point’ was established underground where he was warmed and fed.
“Meanwhile, rock breaking and rescue rigging teams engineered a bypass to a constricted section of passage near the entrance.
“This allowed the man to be hauled up via the new route to the surface.
“The caver was brought safely to the surface and the team was stood down at 4am on Sunday morning. No injuries were reported.”
The ICRO thanked all of its volunteers for travelling through the night and assisting with this successful outcome.
People took to Facebook to congratulate the team on their rescue and “great result”.
One person said: “Well done to all involved.”
Another said: “Well done to everyone involved and very glad it was such a positive outcome.”
While another added: “Well done Kerry for your part in the rescue. Your old granny is very proud of you.”
MOUNTAIN RESCUE
Separately, a man was rescued from Ireland’s tallest mountain after getting into difficulty while conditions were icy.
The Kerry Mountain Rescue Team braved the treacherous conditions after they were alerted to a male hillwalker who “had become cragfast following a slip in icy conditions”.
He was climbing Central Gully on Carrauntoohill, Co Kerry when the incident occurred.
Crews were sent to his location, setting up a belay in the gully and abseiled with the stranded man to safe ground.
They then walked him safely off the mountain by 7.30pm on Saturday February 8.
