IP stop lever shaft disappeared into the IP

[abrankhalid]

Hello !
I am in a major pickle. Today was trying to replace the O-ring around the stop lever on the injection pump . Everything went well until I had to put the clip and shaft back on. In trying to get the c-clip back on the shaft that goes in to the hollow 17-mm nut on the injection pump, i pressed on the shaft and it slipped in to the nut . When i tried to pry it out, it slid in more.
I opened up the 17mm nut but there was no shaft inside it. I tried prying in the opening with a pick but nothing. What should I do ? It seems highly abnormal that of so many people who have done this tiny repair , no one came across the problem. Is it a possibility that something was already broken inside the I.P ?
Any ideas on how to retrieve the shaft and connect the stop lever to it ?

Thanks in advance for all the help !