In brief
After fourteen days trapped in a flooded tunnel, 42-year-old Francisco Zapata Nájera has been rescued by Mexican army divers. His ordeal began when a tailings dam collapsed at a gold mine, leading to a desperate search that ultimately saved one life, while efforts continue for another missing miner.
In a remarkable turn of events, Mexican army divers successfully rescued a miner from a flooded underground tunnel after he spent 14 agonizing days trapped below the surface. Francisco Zapata Nájera, aged 42, became ensnared 300 meters (approximately 985 feet) deep in the Sinaloa gold mine after a dam burst, resulting in a significant collapse of the area.The rescue operation kicked off soon after the incident on March 25, during which 25 workers were inside when the tailings dam burst, allowing 21 workers to escape. Sadly, four miners were trapped, and amidst ongoing rescue efforts, Zapata maintained hope, asserting, 'I didn't lose faith.' Video footage from the rescue revealed Zapata standing in waist-deep water, signaling rescuers with the light of his torch until they spotted his location after over 300 hours of searching. His timely guidance played a pivotal role in their successful endeavor.While his rescue was a relief, the situation remained precarious as divers could not immediately extract him due to flooding. They provided him with canned tuna and energy bars to sustain him until the water was sufficiently lowered. After extensive efforts to decrease the water level, divers were finally able to bring him to the surface, where he was airlifted to a hospital to reunite with his family.President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the rescue efforts, highlighting Zapata's resilience and the intensive work of the military divers. He was reported to be frail but stable, receiving medical attention for his ordeal as search efforts continue for another missing miner.
