Mexican army divers have rescued a miner from a flooded underground tunnel two weeks after he was first trapped. Francisco Zapata Nájera, 42, was stuck 300m (985ft) below ground after an embankment collapsed at a gold mine in the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa.
Video of the rescue shows him standing in waist-deep water, telling his rescuers that he never lost faith during his ordeal. His rescue comes as a relief after 25 workers were inside the mine when a tailings dam burst on 25 March, leading to the crisis.
Rescue efforts had earlier secured the release of another miner, José Alejandro Cástulo, after five days underground, while sadly, one miner did not survive. Following over 300 hours of searching, divers spotted Zapata's blinking torchlight, which he had strategically turned on and off to guide them.
Although visibly relieved, Zapata's ordeal wasn’t over immediately due to the flooding in the tunnel. Divers left him with some supplies, reassuring him they would return soon. After using pumps to lower the water, they finally managed to bring him to the surface, where he was taken by helicopter to the hospital to reunite with his family.
Zapata's story is a testament to the resilience and solidarity among the miners and rescue teams. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum commended both the army and Zapata's unwavering faith as crucial elements that contributed to the successful rescue.
Video of the rescue shows him standing in waist-deep water, telling his rescuers that he never lost faith during his ordeal. His rescue comes as a relief after 25 workers were inside the mine when a tailings dam burst on 25 March, leading to the crisis.
Rescue efforts had earlier secured the release of another miner, José Alejandro Cástulo, after five days underground, while sadly, one miner did not survive. Following over 300 hours of searching, divers spotted Zapata's blinking torchlight, which he had strategically turned on and off to guide them.
Although visibly relieved, Zapata's ordeal wasn’t over immediately due to the flooding in the tunnel. Divers left him with some supplies, reassuring him they would return soon. After using pumps to lower the water, they finally managed to bring him to the surface, where he was taken by helicopter to the hospital to reunite with his family.
Zapata's story is a testament to the resilience and solidarity among the miners and rescue teams. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum commended both the army and Zapata's unwavering faith as crucial elements that contributed to the successful rescue.
