A FISHERMAN has been rescued after a harrowing 15-days trapped 300ft down a water-filled sinkhole.
Erasto Crisanto Valdez ,31, vanished while fishing with his father in a cenote in San Francisco La Paz, Mexico, on July 23.
Erasto Crisanto Valdez ,31, was found alive 15 days after he vanished in a water-filled sinkhole Credit: Jam Press/Municipal Government of Uxpanapa 2026-2029
Rescuers found him in a cave air-pocket over two weeks after he disappeared Credit: NMás
After over two weeks missing, rescuers presumed the man as dead and were “prepared to find his body”.
By some miracle he was found alive – reportedly trapped in a cave with an air pocket more than 328ft below the surface.
Sign up for The Jattvibe newsletter
Thank you!
He was discovered on Thursday by a international team of explorers from Mexico, Germany, the US and the Dominican Republic after facing weeks of cold and humidity in the dark cave.
Mexican explorer Carlos Jiménez described the discovery as a miracle saying “god had other plans” for the lucky man.
FLAMES AND FLOODS
Wild weather hits Europe hols hotspots with 40C heat and tourists rescued
CAVE HORROR
Brit tourist seriously injured after being hit by propeller of sightseeing boat
An international team of rescuers found the man Credit: NMás
He is now recovering in hospital Credit: Newsflash
In an interview with NMás, Erasto said: “Thank you god for giving me another opportunity at life and letting me see my kids and family again.
“It was a miracle – an unbelievable miracle”
Following his initial disappearance, a search operation began immediately, but searches in the water yielded no results.
Six days into the desperate search rescuers discovered found the harpoon Erasto.
The depth of the cenote made the rescue difficult Credit: NMás
He was found with severe dehydration and malnutrition Credit: Jam Press/Municipal Government of Uxpanapa 2026-2029
The depth of the cenote and the difficult conditions at the site made it challenging to locate Erasto.
A cenote is a deep natural well or sinkhole formed by the collapse of surface limestone, exposing groundwater beneath.
Erasto was then brought to the surface on a stretcher.
He was found to be suffering from severe dehydration and malnutrition after spending more than two weeks without access to food,
He was rushed to hospital for treatment in his hometown of Uxpanapa.
It comes as five people were saved from a flooded cave in Laos after they became trapped.
Thai rescuers successfully pulled five of the seven villagers from the tiny after torrential rain triggered landslides that sealed the entrance in May.
The villagers ventured into the remote cave in Xaysomboun province in May reportedly hunting for wildlife and searching for gold.
Sadly two men were never found as the active search was called off when rescue teams deemed it too dangerous.
The rescue was led by the same team who saved the Thai football team who became trapped in the Tham Luang Nang Non cave system in 2018.
