| Name | Age | Sex | Injuries | Injured areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philips, David | 22 | Male | Not recorded | Not recorded |
January 1975 Three inexperienced cavers, David Philips (22), Mark Philips (18), and Mark Winstead (19), went caving when it was raining. Mark Philips' flashlight gave out and Winstead dropped his into the water. They then tried to leave the cave using their only remaining flashlight. About 300 feet from the entrance they found the exit blocked by rising floodwater. The water rose 18 feet in less than 2 hours, but the three novices were rescued at 3:45 a.m. by cavers from Cadiz, Kentucky.
Analysis:
Inexperience allowed the group to enter the cave during bad weather and with inadequate light sources. Had the last light failed, they probably would have drowned in the rising water.