This invention relates to a method for recovering a tubular structure (3) from a well (1), wherein a so-called free point is defined as the location where the tubular structure is stuck in the well. The method comprising providing a downhole tool string comprising a pipe-severing tool and an upper part of the downhole tool string; lowering the downhole tool string into the tubular structure to release the free pipe. Before the step of triggering the pipe-severing tool to sever the tubular structure, the method includes releasing the pipe-severing tool and subsequent withdrawing the upper part, of the downhole tool string away from the free point towards the surface over at least a predefined distance. The invention relates to a downhole tool string for use in such method.