No injured cavers recorded.
On June 6, a school group from Arkansas was touring Yosemite National Park in California. Some of this group entered Indian Caves, a large talus cave situated near the base of the Washington Column at the east end of the valley. The group proceeded through a tight passage into a small room about 150 feet from the entrance. As one caver, a teenage girl, entered this room she stood up, hit her head on the ceiling and was knocked unconscious. Companions went for help. At about 1 p.m. the Park Command Center was notified and dispatched rangers to assist. When the park medic arrived, the victim had regained consciousness. A cervical collar and KED were applied as a precaution against possible spinal injuries. Radio contact was made with the park medical clinic, only one mile from the cave. The victim was placed in a litter and moved through the constricted passage and hauled up a 12-foot drop to the surface.
The park rangers were experienced with "big wall" rescues but found the constricted circumstances of this rescue quite difficult. Otherwise, this is a fine example of the perils of the casual caver, flashlight in hand and no helmet on the head.
Teenage girl in school group hit her head on the ceiling and was knocked unconscious in Indian Caves; experienced park rangers conducted rescue.