Beatriz Flamini: Athlete emerges from 500-day cave residency

Beatriz Flamini, a Spanish extreme athlete, has emerged from a cave after spending 500 days in isolation, potentially setting a new world record.

She had entered the cave in Granada as part of an experiment closely monitored by scientists, at a time when Russia had not yet invaded Ukraine and the world was still struggling with the Covid pandemic.

I’m still stuck on November 21, 2021. I don’t know anything about the world,

she said after exiting the cave.

At the age of 48, Beatriz Flamini entered a 230ft deep cave and spent 500 days there, exercising, reading, and knitting woolly hats. During her stay, she went through 60 books and 1,000 litres of water. Her support team monitored her, but no experts made direct contact with her. Upon exiting the cave, she expressed her satisfaction with the experience, describing it as “excellent, unbeatable.” Footage from the Spanish TVE station showed her emerging from the cave with a grin and hugging her team.

I’ve been silent for a year-and-a-half, not talking to anyone but myself,

she said, while reporters pressed her for more details.

I lose my balance, that’s why I’m being held. If you allow me to take a shower – I haven’t touched water for a year-and-a-half – I’ll see you in a little while. Is that OK with you?

PHOTO: JORGE GUERRERO/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

After approximately two months, Ms. Flamini lost track of time, as she later informed reporters.

There was a moment when I had to stop counting the days,” she said, adding that she thought she had been in the cave for “between 160-170 days

According to her, one of the most difficult experiences was when the cave was invaded by flies, leaving her completely covered. The extreme athlete also described “auditory hallucinations”.

You are silent and the brain makes it up, she said.

During her time in isolation, experts have been analyzing the effects of social isolation and temporary disorientation on an individual’s perception of time. Although Ms. Flamini’s support team has claimed that she has set a new record for voluntarily residing in a cave for the longest period, there is no confirmation from Guinness World Records on such a record. The title for “longest time survived trapped underground” has been given to the 33 Chilean and Bolivian miners who spent 69 days, 688m underground after the collapse of a copper-gold mine in Chile in 2010.