Four gold miners trapped in a flooded cave in Laos for almost two weeks escaped on their own Saturday after water levels dropped, according to lead rescue diver Mikko Paasi.
Paasi told CBS News that the four men noticed the water receding and crawled out, emerging muddy and shaken but alive. Rescue divers were preparing to re-enter the cave when they encountered the miners.
The escape came one day after a fifth miner was pulled from the cave in a risky maneuver. All seven were trapped by floodwaters. Rescuers found the five alive in the furthest of five known chambers on Wednesday.
Two miners remain missing and are feared dead. Rescuers will continue pumping water from the cave system to search for them in a possible sixth chamber accessible only through a narrow gap.
Paasi described the reunion as "heartwarming" and said the team is determined to find the missing two, adding, "We can't stop here."