In a remarkable turn of events, Mexican army divers successfully rescued 42-year-old Francisco Zapata Nájera from a flooded underground tunnel after he spent 14 days trapped. The incident occurred when an embankment collapsed at a gold mine in Sinaloa, leaving Zapata 300 meters below ground.
Video footage captured during the rescue shows a relieved Zapata standing in waist-deep water, expressing his unwavering faith during the challenging ordeal. Unfortunately, the search is still ongoing for another miner who remains missing following the catastrophic event which saw a tailings dam burst on March 25, trapping several workers.
Out of twenty-five miners who were inside at the time, twenty-one managed to escape, while four were trapped. José Alejandro Cástulo was located and rescued five days into the emergency, however, it took rescuers a staggering thirteen days to locate Zapata. His beacon of hope came when divers spotted the blinking flashlight he had been using to signal his location.
Rescuers recounted their relief upon reaching him, noting his flashlight was instrumental in guiding them to his position. “I didn’t lose faith, I didn’t lose faith,” Zapata echoed to his rescuers, showcasing his remarkable resilience.
Despite the initial joy of rescue, the situation proved challenging due to the flooded tunnel making immediate extraction impossible. Rescuers briefly left him with supplies, including water and energy bars, along with a promise to return promptly.
After pumping out water for over twenty hours, Zapata was finally brought to the surface, where he was wrapped in a thermal blanket and transported by helicopter to a hospital. Doctors have reported he is frail but stable, and he was able to reunite with his family.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum hailed the efforts of the military and emphasized Zapata's fortitude, which she credited for the astonishing rescue.
Video footage captured during the rescue shows a relieved Zapata standing in waist-deep water, expressing his unwavering faith during the challenging ordeal. Unfortunately, the search is still ongoing for another miner who remains missing following the catastrophic event which saw a tailings dam burst on March 25, trapping several workers.
Out of twenty-five miners who were inside at the time, twenty-one managed to escape, while four were trapped. José Alejandro Cástulo was located and rescued five days into the emergency, however, it took rescuers a staggering thirteen days to locate Zapata. His beacon of hope came when divers spotted the blinking flashlight he had been using to signal his location.
Rescuers recounted their relief upon reaching him, noting his flashlight was instrumental in guiding them to his position. “I didn’t lose faith, I didn’t lose faith,” Zapata echoed to his rescuers, showcasing his remarkable resilience.
Despite the initial joy of rescue, the situation proved challenging due to the flooded tunnel making immediate extraction impossible. Rescuers briefly left him with supplies, including water and energy bars, along with a promise to return promptly.
After pumping out water for over twenty hours, Zapata was finally brought to the surface, where he was wrapped in a thermal blanket and transported by helicopter to a hospital. Doctors have reported he is frail but stable, and he was able to reunite with his family.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum hailed the efforts of the military and emphasized Zapata's fortitude, which she credited for the astonishing rescue.
