Seven saved after 22 hours trapped in French cave

The seven were part of a group of 15 cavers who went potholing on Tuesday near the town of Herran, Haute Garonne, which is not far from the Spanish border (see map below). 

It is believed their exit was blocked by rising flood waters caused by the violent storms that hit the region in recent days.

Eight of the group were able to make it out at around 4am on Wednesday morning and raise the alarm.

Later in the day, after spending 22 hours stuck 300 metres underground, the six men and one woman were pulled to safety.