An expert caver from near Llanidloes led a 54-hour operation to rescue an injured man trapped inside the UK's deepest cave systems.

Gary Mitchell, from Staylittle near Llyn Clywedog, led the mission to rescue a 38-year-old experienced caver who couldn't move after falling in Ogof Ffynnon Ddu, in the Brecon Beacons earlier this month.

Around 300 cavers came to George Linnane’s aid during what became the longest stretcher carry in British cave rescue history. He suffered back, leg and facial injuries when he fell down a shaft after a boulder he stepped on gave way but was able to stay in “high spirits” and talked throughout as he was carried towards the exit by volunteers.

“To get that news that he’s finally out, he’s on the surface and being well looked after is clearly ecstatic for all of us," the surface controller for South and Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team said.

Gary, who is also the assistant chairman of the British Cave Rescue Council, was also one of the experts who helped save a team of young Thai footballers from a flooded cave system in 2018.

County Times: A picture shared by South & Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team

"We never assumed it would be at this scale but we had really good detailed information," Gary said following the Brecon Beacons rescue. "He was absolutely fit and his mental attitude immeasurably helped in arduous conditions."

He added: "Nobody has been in a situation for that long. We've not dealt with something that long for a significant amount of years. We just get on with the job. We need to be ready 24 hours a day, 365 days a year."

Pictures posted by the South and Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team (SMWCRT), after Mr Linnane had been brought to safety, show him being passed along a human chain through waterfalls, narrow tunnels and over sheer drops.

There has been a outpouring of public support for the teams involved in the rescue and a number of fundraising pages set up for the SMWCRT.

SMWCRT said in a Facebook post last week: “We’ve been humbled by the level of public support we have received. Your kind comments, messages and donations will help get our team back to operational readiness.

“Spare a thought for those who continue the clean up this week, washing equipment, liaising with the press and other agencies and heading back underground to retrieve kit and keep the cave clean.”

Their aim is now to raise £15,000 after thousands of pounds worth of equipment became lost or damaged, and over two days worth of food and supplies were needed to accommodate the hundreds of volunteers