Rescued man felt rat on his head as he stood in chin-high water for 22 hours

The man who was rescued yesterday afternoon from a water-filled cave/well in Pembroke said today that his ordeal saw him praying for the first time since childhood, and he would keep a promise to St Anthony to go to Mass once a week. Natale Fenech, 66 of Sliema, was dramatically rescued by the police early yesterday afternoon after spending 22 hours in a dark underground cave up to his chin in water. Mr Fenech, who lives alone in Sliema, said that when he took his dogs for their usual walk on Friday afternoon, he forgot his mobile phone at home. He often goes for walks in Pembroke near the reverse osmosis plant because his dogs  Fido il-Furjaniz and Kikka L-Ghawdxija can roam freely. He acquired the dogs from the SPCA in Floriana and Gozo respectively, hence their names. On Friday, at about 5p.m., Fido was chasing a rat when he suddenly disappeared. Kikka indicated where he was. Mr Fenech said he reached down a hole where Fido had fallen, but could not reach him. He leaned further forward and fell in. He found himself swimming in a cave/well about the size of a small room. The water was so deep, he could not reach, but he managed to stand on a ledge on one side of the...