| Name | Age | Sex | Injuries | Injured areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherback, Lorrie | 18 | Female | Prolapsed tissue; laceration | Vagina; not stated |
At about 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 19, 1979, Scott M. Smith(20) and two companions were exploring in New River Cave in Giles County, Virginia. They were reportedly inexperienced and did not have proper equipment At about 5 p.m. Smith fell 20 feet from a mudbank and landed on some rocks in a stream. He suffered a gash on his head, between the eyes, where a pointed piece of chert was imbedded. His companions went for help. At 7 p.m. a Giles County Rescue Squad reached the victim. By that time, with soaked clothes, his body temperature had fallen quite low. The victim was placed in a litter and carried out by members of the VPI Cave Club with GCR members monitoring his condition. The route involved crawlways and both up- and down-climbs. At about 1 a.m. the victim was placed in an ambulance and rushed to Montgomery County Hospital. Surgery was required to remove the rock splinter.
The hard mudbanks in caves can be quite steep and tall. Though one can kick small steps in them, for ascent or descent, they offer no purchase if one begins to slide or fall. They thus should be treated like any rock pitch - if a fall would likely result in serious injury, then the climb should be protected by a belay.