Injured cave explorer trapped in ravine in Peru

LIMA, Peru – Rescuers were working Thursday to save an injured Spanish speleologist who has been trapped for seven days about 1,300 feet underground in a cave in Peru’s remote Amazon region.

Cecilio Lopez was hurt when he fell 16 feet inside the Inti Machay cave in a ravine 376 miles northeast of the capital, Lima.

Rescue coordinator James Apaestegui said a doctor had reached Lopez and found the cave explorer had two damaged lumbar vertebrae that limit his movement.

“Cecilio Lopez is lying face up. He can move laterally but he cannot stand up,” said Apaestegui, who is an investigator with Peru’s Geophysical Institute.

Rescuers said they have been getting food and water to Lopez, but his extraction has been made difficult by the remoteness of the cave and the cavern itself, which narrows at places and has ups and downs instead of a vertical drop.

Among the rescuers are 23 Spanish and 10 Mexican spelunkers.