On April 14th, 2023, a 50-year-old Spanish extreme athlete named Beatriz Flamini emerged from a 500-day challenge living 70 metres (230 feet) deep in a cave outside Granada with minimal contact with the outside world. The feat was part of a "Timecave" project designed to study how a person would cope with being underground for an extended period of time.

Flamini’s experience was being used by scientists at the universities of Granada and Almeria and a Madrid-based sleep clinic studying the impact of social isolation and extreme temporary disorientation on perception of time and the impact on sleep.

The athlete documented her experience with cameras and placed the recordings at an exchange point, where her colleagues would drop off food and other living essentials in return. Psychologists and other researchers studied her recordings, but they did not have direct contact with her.

When asked by reporters about her experience, Flamini said she eventually lost track of time as she "got on very well" with herself. She detailed how she spent her time over the past months, including knitting, extensive reading, and exercising. "In fact," she added, "I didn't want to come out."

Flamini's support team said she broke a world record for the longest time spent in a cave in an experiment monitored by scientists studying the human mind and circadian rhythms. She was 48 when she went into the cave, celebrating two birthdays alone underground.

Flamini began her challenge on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021 - before the outbreak of the Ukraine war, the end of Spain's COVID mask requirement, and the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.

Flamini spent her time underground doing exercises, painting and drawing, and knitting woolly hats. She took two GoPro cameras to document her time and got through 60 books and 1,000 liters of water, according to her support team.

She said she began her challenge trying to keep track of time. "On day 65, I stopped counting and lost perception of time," she said.

Flamini embarked on her challenge in November 2021 before significant events such as the outbreak of the Ukraine war, the end of Spain's COVID mask requirement, and the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

During her time underground, she engaged in various activities such as exercising, painting, drawing, and knitting woolly hats. Her support team reported that she consumed 1,000 liters of water and read through 60 books.

Flamini initially attempted to keep track of time, but on day 65, she lost perception of time. She was monitored by a team of professionals who aimed to gain insight into the effects of social isolation and disorientation on sleep, brain patterns, and time perception. Flamini emphasized the importance of remaining coherent and managing emotions such as fear to prevent panic.

Although she came out of the cave for eight days, she remained isolated in a tent while waiting for a router repair. Upon completing her challenge, Flamini was welcomed by her support team and expressed excitement about taking a shower and enjoying a meal of fried eggs and chips with friends.

While the Guinness Book of Records recognizes the 33 Chilean and Bolivian miners who spent 69 days 688 m (2,257 ft) trapped underground as the "longest time survived trapped underground," it is unclear if there is a separate record for voluntary time spent living in a cave or if Flamini has broken it.

Flamini's experience is not the first of its kind. In the 1960s, French geologist Michel Siffre spent months in a dark cave in the French Alps, where he studied the effects of isolation on the human psyche. Siffre's work inspired others, including NASA, which has conducted several experiments on the effects of prolonged isolation on astronauts.

The "Timecave" project is also not the first of its kind. In 2018, a team of scientists led by Christian Clot conducted a similar experiment in the Pyrenees mountains, where they studied the effects of isolation and extreme environments on the human body and mind. Clot and his team spent six months in the mountains, where they endured extreme cold, lack of sunlight, and isolation from the outside world.

The results of Flamini's experiment have not yet been released, but they are expected to shed light on the effects of social isolation on the human mind and body. The project may also have implications for space exploration, where astronauts must endure long periods of isolation and confinement.

Flamini's achievement has been hailed as an inspiration by many, with some comparing her to astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent a year in space aboard the International Space Station. Flamini has expressed her hope that her experience will encourage others to pursue their dreams, no matter how challenging they may seem.

Flamini's story is a testament to the power of human endurance and determination. It is a reminder that even in the face of extreme adversity, we are capable of achieving great things. As we continue to explore the limits of human potential, stories like Flamini's will continue to inspire and amaze us.

References:

Elite athlete emerges from a 230-feet deep cave after 500 days of solitude, calling the experience 'unbeatable'

Spanish Athlete Leaves Cave After 500 Days In Isolation, Says 'Lost Perception Of Time on Day 65'

Spanish athlete leaves cave after 500 days in total isolation

She spent 500 days alone in a cave for a human experiment … but didn’t finish her book