Injured German Cave Researcher Rescued After 2-Week Ordeal

Enlarge this image toggle caption Nicolas Arner/DPA/Landov Nicolas Arner/DPA/Landov

An injured German cave explorer, who spent two weeks trapped underground in the Alps, has reached the surface after an operation involving hundreds of rescuers workers.

Johann Westhauser, 52, a researcher who was taking measurements of Germany's deepest cave system, hit his head during a fall more than 3,000 feet down. As we reported last week, it took one of the injured man's two companions 12 hours just to get outside and get help.

The New York Times says Westhauser was underground for 11 days, 10 hours and 40 minutes when he appeared at the opening of the cave system known as Riesending, or "Big Thing," early Thursday.

"We have achieved our goal," Norbert Heiland, the head of Bavaria's Mountain Rescue Service, told a news conference. "We have also made rescue history, which was only possible through international cooperation."

The Times says: