| Name | Age | Sex | Injuries | Injured areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patton, Richard | 22 | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded |
On Wednesday, November 23, at about 8:30 p.m. Richard Patton (22) and a companion entered Jacob's Well, a water-filled cave in Hays County, Texas near Wimberly. They were equipped with normal diving gear (SCUBA) and lights. The cave is well posted as closed to diving since it has seen eight fatalities in the past 29 years. At about the 90 foot depth they arrived at a small passage that was blocked with a metal grate in 1979 after an unsuccessful body recovery was attempted beyond it. The grate was now missing so the two took off their tanks and proceeded, pushing the tanks in front of them and breathing through the hoses. In the course of this Patton's tank became jammed and they were forced to abandon it. They began to retreat toward the entrance, using buddy breathing, sharing the remaining tank as they ascended. Unfortunately they ascended a blind chimney, discovering this as their air ran out. Patton's companion was able to swim down and out the proper passage to the entrance. On Thursday morning Patton's body was recovered from the blind chimney.
The divers were both members of an advanced diving class at SW Texas State University and were described as "extremely experienced, very intelligent divers." If they had used a line to mark their route it would seem that Patton might still be alive. This fatality is only one of a number that occur each year in water-filled caves, yet it is encouraging to note that none have yet occurred within the divers of the caving community.
Experienced diver, Richard Patton, drowned after taking a wrong turn in a water-filled cave and running out of air.