Gary Yorke of the Tweed Valley team with the rescued man. Photo: Ivan Young, Scottish Cave Rescue Organisation
A caving enthusiast was rescued from a disused mineshaft after he was reported missing.
The 83-year-old Edinburgh man was found at the foot of the shaft in Roslin Glen, Midlothian, after a major search by Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team.
The team was joined by an animal and handler from the Search and Rescue Dogs Association and members of the Scottish Cave Rescue Organisation in the operation.
Jim Salvona failed to return home after going for a walk on Tuesday lunchtime. It was believed he had gone to explore disused mine shafts and other workings in the Loanhead and Bilston area, south of the city’s ring road.
The Tweed Valley team was put on standby as police searched for the man’s vehicle. Team spokesman Dave Wright said: “Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team mobilised at 12.30am following a request by the police to utilise the team’s 4×4 vehicles and personnel to search farm tracks around the Bilston and Roslin area for the missing person’s vehicle.
“The vehicle was successfully located in the Loanhead area at around 5am. Establishing the location of the vehicle allowed the area in which the search area to be narrowed down considerably.
“The missing person was located in woodland south of Loanhead at about 8am by TVMRT and SCRO team members.
“The casualty had slipped and fallen to the foot of a disused mineshaft which measured approximately 6m deep and 3m wide.”
Rescuers in the shaft. Photo: Ivan Young, Scottish Cave Rescue Organisation
The caver was conscious and in good spirits but complained of back pain, so rescuers treated him for suspected spinal injury and used ropes and rigging to bring the man to the surface before he was handed over to the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Mr Salvona was released from hospital later in the day.
Steve Penny, TVMRT team leader, said: “This was a complex operation involving multiple agencies operating in very difficult terrain.
“TVMRT and SCRO utilised their specialist rescue skills in order to reach and extract the casualty before handing over to the Scottish Ambulance Service. We are very pleased that this incident had a happy outcome and wish the gentleman a speedy recovery from his experience.”
