Almost 250 cavers have joined the rescue mission to save a man who's been trapped in the UK's largest cave for two days.
The man has not yet been identified, however he's been described as an experienced caver.
He was part of a group exploring the Ogof Ddynnon Ddu cave system in the Brecon Beacons in Wales.
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On Saturday he fell while climbing the cave.
The man was injured in the fall and has been trapped in the cavern ever since.
Teams of rescuers have been working around the clock for more than 48 hours to bring him to safety.
While rescuers have managed to to locate him and put him on a stretcher, it could take another 10 hours before he's lifted out of the cave.
Rescuers have not yet revealed how far he fell or the extent of his injuries, but one rescuer said: “He’s lucky to be with us.”
“He’s in a bad way,” they added.
Paul Taylor, spokesman for South and Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team, said: “The incident started around 1pm on Saturday when a man who was with him alerted us that his partner had fallen.
“I don’t actually know how many were in the group but there would’ve been more than two.
“They had gone in the Cwmdoor entrance, which is the middle entrance, before he fell.”
Asked about the man’s condition, Mr Taylor, also the chairman of the Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group, said: “He’s doing pretty good as far as I understand. He’s been talking throughout so that’s something.”
He said rescuers are attempting to keep the man fed and warm as well as deal with basics such as removing bodily fluids.
“We’re moving him towards the top entrance. We’ve been keeping him on the move since it started,” Mr Taylor said.
At least eight rescue teams from across the UK have joined the operation, including the Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group, Midlands Cave Rescue Organisation, Derbyshire Cave Rescue Organisation, Mendip Cave Rescue, South East Cave Rescue Organisation, the Cave Rescue Organisation, and Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association.
In case the man is unable to be airlifted to hospital by helicopter, mountain rescue is on site.
Several South Wales Ambulance Service vehicles are also on-site, including their HART team who are trained to deal with large-scale incidents while supplying the cavers with O2 Cylinders.
The number of cavers to join the operation is now at 242.
The caves located near Penwyllt are the deepest in the UK at 300 metres deep.
Discovered in 1947, they are the third-longest cave in the UK, stretching more than 30 miles.
Paul Francis, one of the oldest cave rescuers taking part, and who is responsible for the discovery of parts of the cave, called the incident “an unfortunate, chance accident”.
“This incident is a one-off,” Mr Francis said.
“Although this is a world-class cave system. It’s Himalayan by cave standards, it’s a fairly safe area.
“You’re more likely to be knocked down by a bus than this happening to you.”
Describing the caves, he said: “There’s a stream and waterfalls down there, as well as a massive canyon. It’s really beautiful. And that’s why people come here. It’s very impressive.”
