A British cave diver has died after becoming trapped deep inside an underwater cave system in southwestern France.
The 43-year-old man was discovered Sunday, September 20, two days after he went missing during a dive at the Gouffre de Saint-Sauveur near Calès.
According to local reports, the man was part of a group of eight British cave divers who had entered the site, which is known for attracting experienced divers from around the world.
Rescuers eventually located his body at a depth of approximately 88 meters, or nearly 290 feet, underwater.
The diver is believed to have become caught in a guide line while navigating a particularly narrow section of the cave. He became trapped and was unable to make his way back to the surface.
Emergency crews were first alerted at around 8 p.m. after the man failed to return.
43-year-old man trapped in Gouffre de Saint-Sauveur
French authorities responded by activating the underground-rescue provisions of the ORSEC emergency system, formally known as the Organisation de la Réponse de Sécurité Civile. Firefighters and specialist cave rescuers were brought in as part of the search.
At one point, there was still hope that the missing diver may have managed to reach an air-filled chamber somewhere inside the cave system.
