Trapped cavers reach the surface

An unidentified Swiss student, center, is supported by rescue workers in Goumois, eastern France, Saturday evening

GOUMOIS, France -- Eight Swiss tourists trapped in a flooded cave in eastern France have been rescued after a four-day ordeal. All were safe but exhausted.

The eight amateur explorers were brought to the surface by divers. They had been trapped by floodwaters since Wednesday and not discovered alive until two days later.

They were located on Friday in one of two cavities known to have air pockets, about 80 meters (265 feet) from the entrance to the cave.

Then began the battle to bring them out -- an operation that was hampered by continuing rainfall keeping the water level high.

Rescue workers used small explosives as part of efforts to free eight, comprised of seven students and a teacher on a confidence-building trip.

The eight cavers, five men and three women, were exploring the cave near the city of Goumois, close to the Swiss border.

The explosives were used on Saturday to enlarge the small cavity located near the group to speed the release of water from the cave.

Food, water and blankets were successfully passed to them by divers while they awaited rescue.

Rescuers sent down food and drink to the stranded group

The potholers -- or spelunkers -- are said to be weak and dehydrated after their ordeal, which began after heavy rain caused torrents of water to rush through the cave, which is near the Swiss border.

Divers reached the group after swimming through a narrow passage in the long, winding cave.

More than 100 Swiss and French rescuers had dug into the cave from above, said Eric Zipper, a government-hired cave expert.

Two divers and a doctor stayed with the group in the cave.

The rescue effort was delayed when the water level began rising again and blocked the exit, French television station LCI reported.

The tourists were from a college in Zurich. The cave known as Bief-du-Paraud, or Paraud Canal, it is considered ideal for inexperienced potholers.