PHOTOS: Injured German researcher rescued from cave after two weeks
June 19, 2014
In this handout photo provided by the Bavarian Mountain Patrol (Bergwacht Bayern), rescue workers bring injured spelunker Johann Westhauser to the surface from the Riesending vertical cave during the final phase of his rescue on June 19, 2014 near Marktschellenberg, Germany. Westhauser received a severe head injury when he was struck by rocks in the cave on June 8, 1,000 meters below the surface, and since then over 700 rescue workers from Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Croatia have been working around the clock in an arduous effort to save him. Westhauser was among explorers who first discovered the cave, which is over 20 kilometers long, in 1995. (Photo by Bergwacht Bayern via Getty Images) ( 450860882 )
Mountain rescuers carry cave researcher Johann Westhauser , center, to a helicopter outside the Riesending cave near Marktschellenberg, southern Germany, Thursday June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/dpa,Nicolas Armer) ( Germany Cave Rescue )
A rescue force member stands at the Untersberg mount near Marktschellenberg, southern Germany, on early June 19, 2014. AFP PHOTO / DPA/ NICOLAS ARMER/AFP/Getty Images ( 530858791 )
Mountain rescuers carry cave researcher Johann Westhauser , center, out of the Riesending cave near Marktschellenberg, southern Germany, Thursday June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/dpa,Nicolas Armer) ( Germany Cave Rescue )
A police rescue helicopter arrives near the entrance to the Riesending vertical cave during the final phase of the transport of injured spelunker Johann Westhauser to the surface on June 19, 2014 near Marktschellenberg, Germany. (Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images) ( 450858784 )
Members of the mountain rescue service stand next to the entrance of the Riesending cave near Marktschellenberg, southern Germany, early Thursday June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/dpa,Nicolas Armer) ( Germany Cave Rescue )
This screenshot from a video provided by the Bavarian Mountain Rescue Service on Tuesday June 17, 2014 shows rescuers transporting cave explorer Johann Westhauser in Riesending cave near Marktschellenberg near Berchtesgarden, Germany. (AP Photo/BRK Bergwacht Bayern). ( Germany Cave Rescue )
In this handout photo provided by the Bavarian Mountain Patrol (Bergwacht Bayern), rescue workers carry injured spelunker Johann Westhauser after they brought him to the surface from the Riesending vertical cave during the final phase of his rescue on June 19, 2014 near Marktschellenberg, Germany. (Photo by Bergwacht Bayern via Getty Images) ( 450860906 )
Rescue workers wait for the touch down of an helicopter near the entrance to the Riesending vertical cave after the final phase of the transport of injured spelunker Johann Westhauser to the surface on June 19, 2014 near Marktschellenberg, Germany. (Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images) ( 450858732 )
Rescue workers transport equipment into a police helicopter near the entrance to the Riesending vertical cave after the final phase of the transport of injured spelunker Johann Westhauser to the surface on June 19, 2014 near Marktschellenberg, Germany.(Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images) ( 450858720 )
Rescue workers transport equipment into a police helicopter near the entrance to the Riesending vertical cave after the final phase of the transport of injured spelunker Johann Westhauser to the surface on June 19, 2014 near Marktschellenberg, Germany. (Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images) ( 450858724 )
Mountain rescue workers carry injured German speleologist Johann Westhauser (C) to a helicopter outside the Riesending cave complex near Marktschellenberg, southern Germany on June 19, 2014, ending his 11-day ordeal and a massive recovery operation deep below the Bavarian Alps. Westhauser, 52, suffered serious head injuries in the accident about 1,000 metres (3,300 feet) below ground in the Riesending cave complex, Germany's longest and deepest. AFP PHOTO / DPA/ NICOLAS ARMER/AFP/Getty Images ( 530865183 )
Rescue workers stand at the entrance to the Riesending vertical cave after the final phase of the transport of injured spelunker Johann Westhauser to the surface on June 19, 2014 near Marktschellenberg, Germany. (Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images) ( 450858752 )
Rescue workers step into an police helicopter near the entrance to the Riesending vertical cave during the final phase of the transport of injured spelunker Johann Westhauser to the surface on June 19, 2014 near Marktschellenberg, Germany. (Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images) ( 450858760 )
Rescue workers stand at the entrance to the Riesending vertical cave after the final phase of the transport of injured spelunker Johann Westhauser to the surface on June 19, 2014 near Marktschellenberg, Germany. (Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images) ( 450858762 )
workers stand at the entrance to the Riesending vertical cave after the final phase of the transport of injured spelunker Johann Westhauser to the surface on June 19, 2014 near Marktschellenberg, Germany. (Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images) ( 450858764 )
A police rescue helicopter arrives near the entrance to the Riesending vertical cave during the final phase of the transport of injured spelunker Johann Westhauser to the surface on June 19, 2014 near Marktschellenberg, Germany. (Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images) ( 450858788 )
In this handout photo provided by the Bavarian Mountain Patrol (Bergwacht Bayern), rescue workers carry injured spelunker Johann Westhauser to a waiting helicopter after they brought him to the surface from the Riesending vertical cave during the final phase of his rescue on June 19, 2014 near Marktschellenberg, Germany. (Photo by Bergwacht Bayern via Getty Images) ( 450860888 )
The camp of the mountain rescue service next to the entrance of the Riesending cave near Marktschellenberg, southern Germany, photographed early Thursday June 19., 2014. (AP Photo/dpa,Nicolas Armer) ( Germany Cave Rescue )
Mountain rescue workers take a rest on the rocks of mount Untersberg near the mouth of the Riesending cave complex near Marktschellenberg, southern Germany on June 19, 2014, after helping to rescue an injured German speleologist. AFP PHOTO / DPA/ NICOLAS ARMER /AFP/Getty Images ( 530865590 )
Mountain rescuers celebrate after they rescued cave researcher Johann Westhauser out of the Riesending cave near Marktschellenberg, southern Germany, Thursday June 19, 2014. (AP Photo/dpa,Nicolas Armer) ( Germany Cave Rescue )
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