23 August 2023 , 20:40
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Jaw-dropping footage shows the six children and two adults who were miraculously rescued from a 1,200ft-high cable car before helicopters swooped into save them.
The stunning clip was recorded during an intense operation in Pakistan after a group of children were left dangling over a gorge in the remote mountainous region of Battagram, 120 miles north of Islamabad, when two of the cables snapped.
Thankfully, the incident had a happy ending as each of the eight were plucked from the cable car and brought to the safety of solid ground before the day was over.
In the footage, the drone hovers up to the eye level of the two adults who appear absolutely terrified as one of them holds on to the wrecked chassis for dear life. Meanwhile, one of the children, is seen standing as she holds her mobile phone to her ear. There were reports that the group was in contact with their families below throughout the terrifying mission.
A frantic helicopter mission was launched with the students, aged between 11 and 15, and the adults being pulled out of the cable care one by one. Four of the six children had been rescued by the time darkness had fallen but there were fears the remaining two would be left stranded overnight. This was due to high winds and the lack of light meaning the rescue bid would have to be abandoned.
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The youngsters were trapped for up to 16 hours (AP)But the determined team continued to work throughout the night and retrieved the finally children with a makeshift chairlift and zip line. In an earlier clip, the final two youngsters were zip-lined with experts onto the steep side of the mountain. They were met with cheers and applause from a huge crowd of people.
Locals from the area waved at the two boys, while others filmed them being pulled in on the rope and cried 'God is great'. The two boys were later seen receiving oxygen and first aid from medical teams, before being comforted by locals.
The cable care was left dangling 1,200 ft in the air (AP)Osama Sharif, one of those rescued boys, said: "I had heard stories about miracles, but I saw a miraculous rescue happening with my own eyes." The 15-year-old had been heading to school on Tuesday to receive the results of his final exams, when the cable snapped.
"We suddenly felt a jolt, and it all happened so suddenly that we thought all of us are going to die," he said in a telephone interview. Some of those on board the cable car had mobile phones and started making calls.
The rescue mission came to an end after 16 hoursWorried parents tried to reassure the children. "They were telling us 'Don't worry, help is coming'," said Osama. Nazi Ahmed, a senior police officer who helped coordinate the rescue mission, said the boys were handed over to their families who 'burst into tears'. He added: "Everyone was praying for this moment."
Earlier, Bilal Faizi, a spokesperson for the state-run emergency service, had promised the remaining people in the car would soon be rescued. He said food and water were supplied to the car earlier in the day. According to Pakistani TV stations, some of those trapped were in contact with their families by cellphone.