A German explorer who has been trapped in Germany's deepest cave underneath the Bavarian Alps for nine days was being winched back to safety on Monday in a dramatic rescue operation. Footage from inside the Riesending cave near Berchtesgaden shows Johann Westhauser being pulled through the cave on a stretcher.

The 52-year-old scientist, one of the researchers who discovered the cave, had been lying 1,000 metres (3,300ft) underground since being injured by a rockfall on 6 June. He was not able to climb back to the surface on his own as the ascent involves steep shafts and narrow tunnels. Doctors had to climb 4km (2.5 miles) into the cave to reach Westhauser and make sure he was well enough to be brought out.

An international rescue team has now managed to move Westhauser 350 metres in the first of four stages to bring him to the surface. Some 120 experts from Austria, Croatia, Italy, Germany and Switzerland are involved in the operation.

According to the Bavarian mountain rescue service, Westhauser was eating well and was feeling well in spite of suffering injuries to his head and having to cope with high levels of humidity. "The patient is feeling well," said the service's Stefan Schneider. "He's cosy and warm in his sleeping bag."

The rescue operation is expected to cost several million euros, and it remains unclear who or which country will carry the cost. According to Der Spiegel reported that the association of cave explorers had a fund to help researchers who are injured without insurance.