| Name | Age | Sex | Injuries | Injured areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mcmilian, Bruce | 23 | Male | Compressed spine fracture, bruises, lacerations | Not recorded |
California, Black Chasm
Tuesday, 30 April 1974
Bruce McMilian (23), John Frasier (23), Tom Gorday (24) and Danny Lancaster (24), all novice rock climbers, had crawled under the cement cap and locked steel lid that covered Black Chasm. The cave had been closed by its owner, the American Cement Company. The group was considering descending the pit but decided that it looked too treacherous, and so they agreed to leave. McMilian, the last to pull back from the rim of the shaft, lost his grip on his flashlight and fell 180 feet when he lunged to retrieve the light. McMilian slid and bounced off ledges and the cave wall as he fell. He narrowly missed plunging into the lake at the bottom of the pit. Remarkably, he lived through the experience, suffering only compressed fractures of the spine and numerous bruises and lacerations. The accident occurred about 3:00 p.m. The Blue Mountain Search and Rescue Team removed the victim by 9:15 p.m.
Analysis: Inexperience and carelessness.
This record was last updated on 27th Apr 2024 at 23:11 UTC.