[Nmcaver] Rescue Under Way At Airman's Cave

[Wayne Harrison]

Experienced cavers have been called in to help find three missing
spelunkers at Airman's Cave in Austin, Texas:

>From Austin-Travis County EMS Public Information Office:

ATCEMS and AFD Special Operations are at the scene of an ongoing cave
rescue at Airmen's Cave, near Barton Creek at 3816 South Lamar.
Airman's Cave is used primarily by experience cavers. The underground
cave complex is a approximately 12,000 feet in length, and stretches
south from under the Barton Lodge Apartments to the Brodie Oaks
Shopping Center. The cave complex consists only of small crawl spaces,
including a "keyhole" entrance way that measures less than 18 inches
in diameter.

A concerned acquaintance of one of the three cavers called 9-1-1 at
5:00 a.m. to report the group had not reported in at midnight as
expected. The cavers' plans included trekking to the far end of the
cave complex, which is a 12-hour round trip for experienced cavers.

As of 8:00 a.m., there has been no contact with the three missing
persons. Evidence at the scene leaves rescuers to believe the three
are still somewhere in the elaborate cave complex.

The search continues and Fire and EMS Command say it could take many
hours to complete. Additional information will be released as it
becomes available.

9:00 a.m. Update — Personnel have begun to "stage" water, food and
medical equipment and supplies at key points within the cave complex —
to provide for rescuers, and the potential for injury to the three
cavers.

10:00 a.m. Update — Scene Incident Commanders have enlisted the help
of experienced local spelunkers. Fire and EMS rescue specialists are
approximately 5,000 feet into the cave, while amatuer spelunkers are
pressing forward with their active search.


Wayne Harrison
Cavechat.org