| Name | Age | Sex | Injuries | Injured areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corcoran, John J. | Not recorded | Male | Laceration | Not recorded |
Sandia Caverns is entered through a vertical borehole 24 inches in diameter and 126 feet deep. The top 80 feet of the hole is protected with a 20-inch-diameter steel casing. An alternate foot method of ascending is used on a rope rigged in the borehole.
While John J. Corcoran was ascending the shaft, a foot sling came untied from one of his ascenders. Because the shaft is so narrow, Corcoran could not reach his foot to retie the ascender. The cavers on the surface rigged the rope as a hauling line and pulled Corcoran up the shaft. He was being pulled up quickly when his hard hat struck the bottom of the casing causing the hard hat to slip down and cut his nose.
Source: Report by John S. McLean
Analysis: (McLean) A more secure tie to the ascender, or a spare ascender or prusik knot would have prevented the accident. Several persons have been pulled out of this shaft. Because the borehole is so restricted and decreases in diameter part way up, any problems caused by slack or improper rigging are magnified.
This record was last updated on 27th Apr 2024 at 23:11 UTC.