German caver Johann Westhauser 'in a good state'

An injured German caver trapped underground for 12 days has been brought to the surface after a painstaking rescue operation.

Johann Westhauser, 52, was badly hurt in a rock fall on 8 June while exploring Germany's deepest cave with two other men near Austria's border.

Head of the Bavarian mountain rescue service, Norbert Heiland, told reporters the injured man has now arrived at a clinic ''in a good state''.

''We have managed to fulfil the essential aim of our rescue operation, which was to get the patient the emergency care that he needs,'' he said.