Posted on 10/14/2007 1:42:51 PM PDT by trumandogz
Rescue workers have been searching since early this morning for four people believed to be inside Airman's Cave, a narrow limestone cavity that runs parallel to South Lamar Boulevard.
The people - three women and a man believed to be University of Texas students - set out to explore the cave at around 9 a.m. Saturday, officials said. 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.
Rescue workers with EMS and the Austin Fire Department are searching with the help of local caving groups.
"We have no reason to believe that they're injured," said Frank Urias, an EMS division commander, said of the missing people. "At this point, we're just treating them as overdue cavers."
Officials did not release the names of the missing people.
The trek from the cave's entrance behind the Barton's Lodge apartments on South Lamar Boulevard to the end - 1.5 miles south, past Ben White Boulevard - would take an experienced caver about 12 hours, said Warren Hassinger, an EMS spokesman.
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 has very, very narrow passages. It has several areas where its very easy to get lost or disoriented in."
The most challenging part of the cave to navigate is a 16- or 18-inch wide section near the beginning called the keyhole, said firefighter D. J. Walker, who was inside the cave this morning.
He said he had to put one arm above his head and the other arm by his side to wiggle his way inside. Walker, who weighs 155 pounds, said he was chosen to go in because of his size. "If you're over 170 pounds, it's hard to get in," he said.
Rescue workers found water bottles and a cell phone near the entrance to the cave, which seems to indicate that the people are still inside, Walker said.
The fire and EMS workers are using Vietnam War-era phones to communicate with the dozen or so rescuers who are inside the cave, Walker said. The rescuers have brought a spool of telephone wire into the cave because radios and cell phones don?t work inside. The wire - along with glow sticks they're placing along their path - will also help the rescue workers find their way out, officials said.
The entrance to the cave is a 10-minute hike down a rocky trail in the greenbelt behind the apartment complex. This morning, several rescue workers congregated outside the cave's entrance, which is under a rocky overhang. Some had light brown dust all over their bodies from their time inside the cave.
"It's not a fun cave," said Kevin Harner of EMS, who tried to enter the cave this morning but said that although he could have physically fit through the keyhole, it was too much for him psychologically.
"You really have to like caving," he said.
This costs how much? This puts rescuers ar what risk?
It sounds like we have some Darwin Award candidates here.
bttt
Wow. Thanks for the link. The cave runs through S. Austin, right under where I used to live.
WhatEVER. . .do hope they are found quickly and that everyone participating here remains safe.
At first I wondered if they are really in there, or if it is a hoax. If they are, hope they are found safe.
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.
Breaking News: Rescuers have successfully located the missing cavers and they are reported to be in good condition.
KVUE-Austin, TX TV station
No, thanks! I’ll stick to places where I can stand up!
http://public.fotki.com/slax/airmans_cave/airman_003.html
That’s good to hear.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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