| Name | Age | Sex | Injuries | Injured areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas, Stephen | 18 | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded |
On Monday, October 15, 1984, two cavers entered Thunder Hole, in Putnam County, Tennessee. They proceeded through some horizontal passage and encountered a pit. To get to further horizontal passage, a traverse around the edge of the 130-foot pit on a sloping ledge must be negotiated. At about 10:45 a.m. Stephen Thomas (18) tried this, slipped and fell. His companion left the cave and called authorities.
The victim was reportedly not wearing appropriate footwear and had only a flashlight. There was no sign of intoxication. Proper equipment and technique (a belay) should have prevented this fatality.
Fatal fall due to inadequate equipment and lack of proper technique