Man in mineshaft for 11 days rescued after children heard cries
A passer-by has told how he heard a man's cries for help after he had been stuck down a Somerset mineshaft for 11 days.
The man was pulled out of the shaft by a cave rescue team and taken to hospital where he is being treated for back and leg injuries and hypothermia.
The alarm was raised by John Baker, manager of the Charterhouse outdoor activity centre, who was hiking with a group of youngsters over the Mendip Hills.
He said: "We were out late last night doing a night hike on the first evening of their trip.
"We were just trying to listen to noises of the nocturnal night when all of a sudden we heard this cry at a place called Stainsbury Shaft which was near to us. It turned out to be a man stuck down the shaft.
"We were all pretty stunned because the place has been closed.
"It caused us quite a bit of surprise and we were quiet to make sure we were hearing what we were hearing.
"The children were excellent. They soon grasped what was going on and behaved really well. "
Avon and Somerset police believe he may be a Radstock man reported missing by his family 11 days ago.
