A 53-year-old man who had been trapped in a makeshift 10-meter-deep tunnel in Gonnoi, Larissa, was recovered dead. Firefighters needed a total of 12 hours to reach him and finally bring him out, unfortunately without signs of life.

Yesterday at noon, the Fire Department was alerted and a rescue operation began for the 53-year-old, who was trapped inside the tunnel. Authorities were notified via the 112 emergency line by a 77-year-old man, who asked for help.

Firefighters and a team from the 8th EMAK (Special Disaster Response Unit) immediately arrived at the scene and started the operation. According to information, a group of four people had been carrying out work for some time in a mountainous area above Gonnoi, Larissa. Police believe this group were treasure hunters looking for gold in the area. Two of them abandoned the site once they could no longer breathe inside the tunnel, and the 53-year-old fell from a height of 10 meters.

At the same time, the 77-year-old man who remained and alerted the authorities was first taken to the Gonnoi Health Center and then transferred to the General Hospital of Larissa. He is reported to be in good health.

The difficult operation

After at least 5 hours, firefighters reached the 53-year-old, who appeared unconscious. As they approached, a landslide occurred, but they managed to shield him with the stretcher they were carrying. They then administered oxygen, and the 53-year-old briefly responded and regained communication with his surroundings. Firefighters reached the 10-meter depth using special equipment that included oxygen tanks. Before beginning the extraction, they installed supports to safely lift him.

Once they managed to bring him to the surface, he had to be carried for about half an hour along a rough path to reach the main road, where an ambulance was waiting to transfer him to the hospital.

Police investigation

Police are searching for the other two members of the group who fled the area. Authorities have also confiscated two vehicles used by the treasure hunters to reach the site.

Residents report that this group had been active at that particular spot for quite some time. There is indeed a cave there, and they believed they would find gold coins.

Police are conducting an investigation to locate the two missing individuals, as well as to determine exactly what the group had been searching for over the past month, since locals say they had often seen them working in the area.