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Caver rescued in gas-filled shaft Caver 'serious' after mine rescue
(about 15 hours later)
A caver has been rescued from a disused mine shaft in Edinburgh. A caver rescued from a disused mine shaft in Edinburgh is in a serious condition in hospital.
The man was suspended from a rope, 10m down in the mine at the Wisp, in the Craigmillar area of the city, when he was overcome by fumes. Peter Ireson, 37, from Livingston, was overcome by fumes while suspended 30ft down the mine at the Wisp, Craigmillar.
A Lothian and Borders Fire and rescue spokeswoman said two specially trained firefighters were lowered into the shaft, one of whom gave the man oxygen. A Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue spokeswoman said two specially-trained firefighters were lowered into the shaft and gave the 37-year-old oxygen.
He was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary by ambulance. His condition is not known. The Grampian Speleological Group member was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary by ambulance.
The spokeswoman said a man from a neighbouring property, helped to secure the man's line to stop him falling further, before the arrival of firefighters. A man from a nearby house helped secure the caver's line to stop him falling further, before emergency services arrived.
She added that the firefighters had worked in difficult circumstances due to lack of space in the narrow mine shaft. The problem was that there were only two of them so when one of them got into difficulty, the other didn't have the strength to pull him out Alan JeffreysGrampian Speleological Group
The fire service was called to the scene at about 1945 BST. The man was understood to have been with other cavers. Firefighters, who were called to the scene at about 1945 BST on Thursday, were forced to work in difficult circumstances due to a lack of space in the narrow mine shaft.
Alan Jeffreys, Grampian Speleological Group warden, said his fellow caver was unconscious in intensive care.
Speaking to the BBC Scotland news website about the incident, he said: "The problem was that there were only two of them so when one of them got into difficulty, the other didn't have the strength to pull him out.
"We are a rescue club but we also look into mines and caves for research to see where they go, and that's what they were doing at the time of the accident."
Monitoring equipment
Mr Ireson, who works as an engineer, is single and does not have any children.
Paul Graham of Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service, who was at the scene, said: "This was an unusual and difficult incident. The problem with gas is that you need the appropriate monitoring equipment for each gas."
He said tests at the mouth of the mine shaft had indicated there was gas there, but it was not known which one.
"We have asked for environmental health to investigate which gas it was," Mr Graham added.
"There were 16 firefighters on the scene and we pulled him up 35 minutes after receiving the call. He was unconscious."
Lothian Webster, of the Coal Authority, said: "In the central belt of Scotland there are many historic coal mine areas.
"This incident shows it is sensible not to enter any holes in the ground that you discover, which could be related to coal mining."