Rescuers search for missing students at Airman's Cave (Austin. Texas)

Austin American Statesman ^ | 10.14.07 | Corrie MacLaggan

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

The cavers told friends to call for help if they weren't back by midnight Saturday. At around 5 a.m., the friends called 911.

This costs how much? This puts rescuers ar what risk?

[vox humana]

He said some of the missing cavers may have had little to no experience.

"It's definitely not someplace where an amateur or novice wants to be," Urias said of Airman's Cave.

It sounds like we have some Darwin Award candidates here.

[trumandogz]

I imagine it cost some money but the risk in these caves in minimal for rescuers that have caving experience.

[trumandogz]

Therefore, someone in the group has spelunking experience.

[TornadoAlley3]

http://www.io.com/~iareth/airmens.html

[Guenevere]

bttt

[trumandogz]

Wow. Thanks for the link. The cave runs through S. Austin, right under where I used to live.

[cricket]

Was thinking the same. And wondering if it is their 'youth' that absolves th em from the rules of practical thinking; or their Liberal education. . .

WhatEVER. . .do hope they are found quickly and that everyone participating here remains safe.

[TornadoAlley3]

At first I wondered if they are really in there, or if it is a hoax. If they are, hope they are found safe.

[Don Carlos]

Great link!

I was stationed at Bergstrom AFB (12th Tac Recon Squadron, PPIF), when this got a little local publicity. I seem to recall one or two articles in the Austin Statesman, and a little on-base buzz. Had completely forgotten about the cave until today.

[TornadoAlley3]

Breaking News: Rescuers have successfully located the missing cavers and they are reported to be in good condition.

KVUE-Austin, TX TV station

[kcvl]

No, thanks! I’ll stick to places where I can stand up!

http://public.fotki.com/slax/airmans_cave/airman_003.html

[trumandogz]

That’s good to hear.

[Caramelgal]

This costs how much? This puts rescuers art what risk?

I agree that these people put themselves in a dangerous situation but at what point are you willing to draw the line?

Let’s say you are driving a bit too fast on a rain slicked back road on dark night– not drunk or purposely reckless but you misjudge the conditions and make a mistake and your car goes off the road and down a steep ravine.

The 9-11 call goes out and a rescue team has to go down that ravine to extract you from the wreckage. They are putting their lives at risk for your mistake. A medi-vac helicopter is dispatched to take you to the nearest trauma center. Every time a medi-vac helicopter takes off and lands and takes back off again, they are putting their lives at risk not to mention the expense. Then you go the trauma center where highly trained doctors and nurses and the best and very expensive medical technology saves your life.

The Coast Guard risks their lives to save boaters who make bad judgments on weather conditions and on their own skill as boaters all the time.

Do you really want rescuers to make judgments on whether you deserve to be saved or do you want them to save lives and ask questions later?

[BenLurkin]

Agreed.

This just doesn’t look like much fun...http://images102.fotki.com/v401/photos/4/43435/517195/airman028-vi.jpg?1070158878

Not to me.

[CitizenUSA]

Thanks for the photo, BenLurkin. Yikes! I’ve been in a couple caves, one where some of the going was on hands and knees, but from the looks of things, this cave is insane!

[A knight without armor]

Wow. What possesses people to do this? I would be way too frightened. I don’t know whether to admire them or be freaked out by the foolishness. How in the world can they rescue someone through such a small space. Seems like if you were injured and had a swollen leg or arm you could not get out. I'm upset thinking about it.

[cubreporter]

I’m wondering why the friends waited 5 hours longer instead of calling 911 at midnight as instructed? Seems to me 5 hours earlier might have been crucial regarding a rescue.

[rawhide]

FoxNews reporting:

Three University of Texas students who had not emerged from a cave after nearly 30 hours were found alive and uninjured Sunday, an emergency worker said.

"The victims are uninjured, our crews are safe, it doesn't get any better than this," said Frank Urias, division commander of Austin-Travis County EMS.

The two women and one man were found in a 500-foot crawlspace that is about the diameter of a sewer pipe, Urias said. They are expected to be pulled from the cave in a few hours.