No injured cavers recorded.
At about 11:30 a.m. on May 2, Roberta Swicegood, Paul Stevens, and Mike Dyas entered the Lipps Entrance to the Organ Cave System in West Virginia. Their objective was the mapping of leads in the lower Jones Conyon area. After proceeding 1 1/2 hours they were in a trunk passage floored with heavy breakdown approaching the first waterfall. Dyas was in front beginning the last breakdown obstacle. He started a "minor climb across a V-shaped notch in the breakdown, bracing with hands on boulders to either side." With no warning, a quarter-ton rock to his left slid several feet, pinning Dyas by his left calf.
After a brief struggle Dyas got free and sat down to recover from shock while the others examined the leg. Damage appeared to be limited to severe bruising and probable muscle/tendon strains.
Aspirin was administered and the group headed back for the Lipps Entrance. The distance was 2500 feet, consisting of breakdown trunk, slippery streamway and simple crawling and stooping through the Lipps Maze. Dyas proceeded slowly with minimal assistance, pausing twice to soak the leg in cool water. The exited the cave 2 hours after the accident. Examination at a hospital verified the lack of a fracture.
Analysis: It is reported that there was no indication of instability in the well-traveled passage. A true accident.