| Name | Age | Sex | Injuries | Injured areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hendrix, Butch | 37 | Male | Burns; general injury | Hands; back |
ACCIDENT: New Mexico, Lost Cave
November 23, 1980
On November 23. Butch Hendrix (37) and Charles Bruce visited Lost Cave in Eddy County, New Mexico, on a photo trip. They intended to share climbing gear. Hendrix had not rappelled before so the use of a carabiner-brake bar set-up was demonstrated by Bruce. Hendrix was obviously unsure and nervous about this unfamiliar technique. He had previously descended pits hand-over-hand and decided to use this more familiar method. He was told of it's dangers but insisted. It was also found that Bruce's chest harness would not fit Hendrix and that he would have to ascend with just foot-attached ascenders, apparently expecting to hold himself upright with hand and arm strength. Bruce proceeded to rappel down the 30 foot entrance drop. Hendrix then grabbed the rope and started down, hand-over-hand. Part-way down he began to slip and then went down fast, with the rope sliding through his hands. He landed hard, but on his feet. His hands were badly burned and his back hurt. He chose to lie down. It was obvious that he couldn't ascend without a chest harness. Bruce left Hendrix with water and warm clothing and exited the cave, proceeding to a caving friend's place to borrow a chest harness. The friend's harness was already loaned out so the two of them headed back to the cave, only a few minutes journey. Using Bruce's seat harness as a chest harness, Hendrix made it out and was taken home. He was later hospitalized, presumably for the back injury and burned hands.
REFERENCE: Charles Bruce Accident Report March, 1981.
ANALYSIS: Bruce concludes that both were not using safe methods. He feels that he perhaps should have taken his rope and refused to enter. Such decisions are difficult and certainly will offend the person with the unsafe technique. Hendrix was lucky he was with someone who knew proper techniques and had good equipment. The right thing to do, whenever faced with a situation requiring equipment you don't have, is to back off and get what is needed.
This record was last updated on 27th Apr 2024 at 23:11 UTC.