54 Hours Beneath


Genre: Documentaries, Spring 22


Duration: 1 x 60’


Year of Production: 2022


Production Company: One Tribe TV


Commissioned By: BBC Wales, UK


Definition: HD


Re-living an incredible two-day rescue mission

This fascinating documentary looks deep into what happens when caving goes wrong, emerging as a tale of hope, bravery, and the insurmountable strength of the human spirit. It follows the story of experienced English caver George Linnane who, after a freak accident, gets trapped within Britain’s deepest cave system with multiple life-threatening injuries. This film is the story of his remarkable 54-hour long rescue, which saw a team of over 300 individuals come from across the UK to the 900ft-deep Ogof Ffynnon Ddu (OFD) cave in Wales. 

Featuring specially shot drama reconstruction filmed inside the cave and intimate testimony from the people who were there, including the specialist cave doctors who kept him alive, stretcher carriers, riggers, and the top side logistical team, we’ll begin to understand the incredible co-ordinated effort that it took to get him safely to the surface. For the first time, George Linanne, and the two cavers who were with him, also talk about that fateful day and the horrors of the accident.