Everyone Already Thought He Was Dead: Fisherman Trapped in an Underwater Cave Rescued Alive After 15 Days
A 31-year-old Mexican fisherman, Aristo Cristiano Valdes, disappeared on July 23 in a cenote in San Francisco la Paz. Cave experts from several countries searched for him, and after 15 days he was found alive in a dry cave deep within the system. He suffered from dehydration and malnutrition but survived thanks to stream water. He was taken to the hospital and said he lost track of time and thought only 3 days had passed.
A 31-year-old Mexican fisherman, Aristo Cristiano Valdes, disappeared on July 23 in a cenote in San Francisco la Paz, Mexico, while diving with his father. His father tried to find him and called for help, and gradually cave experts from Mexico, Germany, the US, and the Dominican Republic joined the search. Six days after the disappearance, his flashlight was found at a depth of 65 meters, and after eight more days, on August 6, a reserve air tank was found at a depth of 100 meters. The next day, American diver Harry Gast located a dry cave, and when he called out "Is someone here?" he heard Valdes reply "Yes!". He was rescued 15 days after going missing, suffering from severe dehydration and malnutrition, but survived thanks to stream water flowing in the cave. He was taken to the hospital, and in an interview said it was a miracle. He said he lost track of time and thought only 3 days had passed. Researcher Carlos Jimenez defined the rescue as a miracle.