| Name | Age | Sex | Injuries | Injured areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evans, Douglas | Not recorded | Male | Multiple | Head, back, pelvis |
On 4 September, a speleological study party of four, Richard Breisch, Douglas Evans, Ellsworth Rolfs, and Loren Bolinger all highly experienced vertical cavers, found and entered Vanishing River Cave on the second day of an expedition into the Guadalupe Mountains. The party had inspected a 40 foot pit the previous day, their first day out. At Vanishing River Cave, the party rigged the pit entrance and descended to the bottom - 350 feet below the surface. They then ascended to a first level about 100 feet below the surface. Evans then ascended to the surface with prusik knots. He apparently cleared the entrance and announced that the weather was getting bad and rain was starting. Bolinger started to coil 600 feet of rope from below, while Breisch and Rolfs, 25 feet below, assisted, when falling debris was heard and Bolinger saw Evans falling from the entrance. Evans landed on the 100 foot level. Rolfs, a Red Cross First Aid Instructor, attended to Evans while Breisch ascended to the surface, threw down some clothing for the injured man, and went for help.
Evans had deep lacerations on the side and back of the head, and he complained of severe back and pelvis pain. His helmet lining had separated from the plastic shell, which was poorly designed for caving use. After giving what assistance he could, Bolinger ascended to the surface to set a signal fire. At 6:30 p.m., 11/2 hours after the accident, Evans stopped breathing and Rolfs started artificial respiration. A few minutes later Evans' heart stopped and Rolfs commenced closed-chest heart massage. After one hour, without response, Rolfs stopped his effort (7:25 p.m.). At 8:40 p.m., Rolfs ascended to the surface because rain was threatening and the cave was in danger of being flooded. Because of the isolated location, the recovery operation was protracted. At 8:45 a.m. (5 September) Breisch returned with the rescue party. At 11:45 a.m., Evans' body had been raised to the surface. It was not until midnight that day that the group reached a roadhead. (While ascending, one of Bolinger's sling ropes broke at about 30 feet from the surface. He was able to re-rig and complete his áscent). Source: Loren Bolinger (Windy City Speleonews, Vol. 7. No. 5, October 1967).
Analysis: (Bolinger) "Our personal conclusion about the accident is that a combination of wet rock, leaves, and moss, the steep angle of the funnel surrounding the entrance, and the lack of a safety line after the prusiks were removed from the main line were contributing factors in Evans' fall."