1.
CU MAIRETET WITH ELECTRODES FITTED
0.07

2.
SV CAMERAMEN
0.10

3.
GV MAIRETET ENTERS POTHOLE
0.13

4.
SV INT. POTHOLE (2 SHOTS)
0.20

5.
SV TEAM CHECKING EQUIPMENT (2 SHOTS)
0.27

6.
SV MAIRETET
0.30

7.
SV CHECK EQUIPMENT
0.33

8.
CU MAIRETET
0.38

9.
SV TELEPHONE AND OTHER EQUIPMENT (2 SHOTS)
0.47

10.
GV INT. POTHOLE
0.53



Initials MM/VS/CR/GLH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: FRENCHMAN JEAN-PIERRE MAIRETET WHO HAS BEEN UNDERGROUND IN A CAVE AT ANDON, NEAR NICE, SINCE 1 JUNE HAS A COMPLETELY DISTORTED IDEA OF THE PASSING OF TIME.

ON 4 AUGUST, MAIRETET, A 25-YEAR-OLD RESTAURANT OWNER, HAD BEEN ALONE IN THE CAVE 64 DAYS, BUT BY HIS CALCULATIONS IT WAS ONLY 38 DAYS.

THIS STRANGE EFFECT OF TIMELESSNESS IS ONE OF SEVERAL ASPECTS OF THE CAVE-DWELLER'S LIFE WHICH ARE BEING INVESTIGATED BY A TEAM UNDER THE FRENCH ARMED FORCES MINISTRY'S RESEARCH CENTRE. SIX MEN AT THE SURFACE, 200 FEET (60 METRES) ABOVE MAIRETET'S CAVE, ARE KEEPING A CONSTANT CHECK ON INSTRUMENTS REGISTERING HIS REACTIONS. THE INSTRUMENTS ARE WIRED TO EQUIPMENT IN THE CAVE, INCLUDING TINY ELECTRODES ATTACHED TO MAIRETET'S BODY. ONE PARTICULAR EXPERIMENT CONNECTED WITH THE SENSATION OF TIMELESSNESS INVOLVES THE RECORDING OF MUSCLE MOVEMENTS IN HIS EYELIDS AND CHEEKS DURING SLEEP.

MAIRETET PLANS TO STAY UNDERGROUND UNTIL 1 DECEMBER, THUS BREAKING THE NEW UNDERGROUND RECORD SET A FEW DAYS AGO BY DAVID LAFFERTY OF BRITAIN, WHO STAYED IN A CAVE FOR 130 DAYS. LAFFERTY ALSO EXPERIENCED THE INABILITY TO CALCULATE TIME. ON 1 AUGUST, THREE DAYS BEFORE HE SURFACED HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE THOUGHT THE DAY WAS 17 JULY.