FRANCE: VALLON PORT DARC: RESCUE OPERATIONS TO SAVE FIVE POTHOLDERS TRAPPED BY FLOOD WATERS (FOUR RESCUED TODAY, FRIDAY).

Record ID: 912056

  • Title: FRANCE: VALLON PORT DARC: RESCUE OPERATIONS TO SAVE FIVE POTHOLDERS TRAPPED BY FLOOD WATERS (FOUR RESCUED TODAY, FRIDAY).
  • Date: 7th June 1963
  • Summary: 1. GV FIRE TENDER TOWING WATER PUMP ARRIVES 0.08 2. SV PAN FROM POLICE TO PUMPS] 0.13 3. CU PAN PIPE LINE PUMPING WATER FROM POTHOLE 0.24 4. GV RESCUE TEAM WADING THROUGH MUD 0.33 5. TV PAN WATER POURING DOWN INTO POTHOLE 0.43 6. TV PAN FROM WATER POURING OVER CLIFF EDGE DOWN TO POTHOLE 0.56 7. CU PAN WATER GUSHING INTO POTHOLE 1.06 Initials AA/S/AW/BB. Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 19th November 2016 15:07
  • Keywords:
  • Location: VALLON PORT DARC, SOUTHERN FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVAYN7WG66H55F7DBGAHM3R6O13
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: THREE OF THE FIVE YOUNG FRENCH POTHOLERS TRAPPED IN A CAVE AT VALLON PORT DARC SINCE LAST SUNDAY, TODAY (FRIDAY) EMERGED SAFE AND SOUND.THE FIFTH IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN CARRIED AWAY AND DROWNED IN THE SUBTERRANEAN TORRENT.

    THE POTHOLERS, RANGING IN AGE FROM 18 TO 27, WENT DOWN THE GOULE DE LA FONSOUBIE POTHOLE, INTENDING TO BE OUT BY MONDAY.BUT TORRENTIAL RAIN STARTED EARLY ON MONDAY MORNING AND WITHIN HOURS THE ENTRANCE WAS BLOCKED BY FLOOD WATERS.

    EVENTS HAD SEEMED TO BE GOING BADLY FOR THE POTHOLERS.THE RAIN WHICH STARTED ON MONDAY, CONTINUED FOR 60 HOURS, BUT YESTERDAY, WHEN OUR FILM WAS SHOT, THE RAIN STOPPED.VOLUNTEER RESCUE WORKERS HAD BEEN WORKING ROUND THE CLOCK TO STEM THE WATERS FROM ENTERING THE GROTTO AND PUMPS WERE WORKING AT FULL CAPACITY DRAWING OUT 1,500 CUBIC METRES OF WATER AN HOUR.HOPES CENTRED ON THE CHANCE THAT THE POTHOLERS HAD BEEN ABLE TO REACH A LEDGE IN THE CAVE ABOVE THE WATER LEVEL.FOOD SENT DOWN IN SEALED DRUMS WITH TORCHES ATTACHED TO THEM TO SHOW THEM UP IN THE DARK.

    MESSAGE HAD BEEN FLOATED DOWN THE TORRENT ASKING THE POTHOLERS NO TO RISK CLIMBING OUT BUT TO "WAIT AND HOPE." NOW THE WAITING HAS BEEN REWARDED.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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