| Name | Age | Sex | Injuries | Injured areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dibble, Dan | 25 | Male | Break; strains | Finger; back, and knee |
In January of 1981 a group of cavers including Dan Dible, Jim Smith, Chris Kerr, Jill Dorman, Mike Sanders and Marion Smith from the United States were investigating caves near Huautla de Jimenez in the northern end of the state of Oaxaca in Mexico. On Wednesday, January 21, several of the cavers went hiking in search of new pits, taking along a 200 foot PMI rope bought in 1979. Taking the road toward La Providencia for awhile, they soon struck off on a trail. After doing a 160 foot pit they moved on. The afternoon had become enshrouded in fog and at this point the wind was blowing. A thrown rock at a second pit indicated a depth of some 50 feet. After the vegetation was cleared, the PMI was rigged to a boulder about 15 feet from the edge. At around 5 p.m. Danny Dible (25) got on rappel and started down, dislodging a large (10-20 pounds) rock as he passed the lip. He continued, but after he had rappelled 20 feet or so, those on the surface saw the rope suddenly become slack it had broken at a spot damaged by the falling rock. Fortunately the rope had been rigged with excess on the surface. It was quickly re-rigged and Chris Kerr rappelled in. Dible, meanwhile, was moaning and calling for help. Kerr immediately sent his vertical gear up and, using it, Marion Smith descended Dible had fallen free for at least 30 feet and landed on a rubble slope down which he tumbled for a short ways. He was obviously injured and bleeding but still conscious, though confused as to what had happened. Kerr examined him for injuries and observed a possibly broken left wrist, a damaged right knee, possible broken ribs, possible back injuries, injured left elbow, a cut lip and abrasions on the forehead. A space blanket was made into a crude tent over the victim and two carbide lamps were placed under it for warmth. Dible still complained of feeling cold so obviously shock had set in. The situation was communicated to those on the surface and Mike Sanders went back to the house for the truck. Thirty minutes later Kerr left to get a doctor. This left Smith with Dible amidst the stinking, bloated sheep and goat carcasses in the pit. At 8:20 p.m. Kerr returned and lowered additional items - stove, food, drink, carbide, first-aid kit, sweater, parka, etc. The extra clothes were put on Dible and he was given a pain pill. A hour and a half later the truck arrived with Sanders and Jim Smith. Smith descended bringing a Kelty pack frame, webbing and a large first-aid kit. He examined Dible and requested two 3 1/2 foot splints which were shortly sent down. The right leg was splinted, Dible's chest harness was put on and he was attached to the rope by his seat and chest harnesses (the seat harness was already on). Kerr and Smith changed places and a second rope was rigged through a pulley fastened to ropes stretched over the pit. Then Dible was hauled up with Kerr climbing the first rope, guiding him. it was near midnight. Dible was then carried about 1/4 mile along the slippery, muddy trail, through the cold, foggy night to the waiting truck. The seven mile transport to Huautla was taken slowly to ease the bumps with Dible on a foam pad, under a sleeping bag. No doctor was available in Huautla so, after a nights layover, Dible was taken to the hospital in Tehuacan. He was treated for a broken finger and a strained back and knee.
As Dible passed over the lip on his descent he obviously kicked loose some dirt and small rocks. A 10-20 pound rock also fell but may not have been noticed by Dible. About 20 feet below, the rope passed over a second lip. Kerr theorizes that "Because he held the rope behind him and may have been standing or kneeling above the entrance lip when the rock fell, it is likely that the rope was severely damaged at the lower (second) lip, the damaged place would have been 'hidden' below the lower lip." The rope was examined and the core and 2/3 of the sheath were found to be cleanly cut - the other third was slightly frayed. Dible claims to have rappelled slowly. It must be that the damaged place was unobvious but it is also likely that Dible was not intensely thinking of possible rope damage. The combination of the these two circumstances led to his rappelling onto the damage, the rope breaking and his fall. The message to receive here is that in any situation of possible rope damage, one must be extremely careful and feel and look for damage on every foot of rope as one descends. Better still, pull the rope up and check it if you suspect damage. In the aftermath there were several fortunate circumstances that should be mentioned:
1) There was enough excess rope to get someone to the victim right away.
2) A space blanket was available right away.
3) First-aid supplies and expertise were available.
4) Rescue knowledge and manpower were at hand