| Name | Age | Sex | Injuries | Injured areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock, Mark | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Stock, Charlotte | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Tkach, Steve | 30 | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded |
On November 23, five cavers entered Fitton Cave in Arkansas. The group was led by Mark and Charlotte Stock, very experienced cavers. The other three ranged from several years to almost no caving experience. They planned to visit the Tennouri Room and see some walking passage. After considerable exploring, some of the group were tiring so they started out. The less experienced were allowed to lead to gain confidence. At one rest stop, they were discussing rescue, including the notion that in some deep and difficult caves, evacuation would be so hard that "flatrocking" (dispatching the victim without evacuation) would be preferable. Ten minutes later Steve Tkach (30) was climbing a flowstone slope when he slipped, sliding down and injuring his ankle. Apparently he fell with that foot under him and it caught on a projection during the fall. Tkach felt that it was broken but seemed to be dealing with it well enough that he was allowed to proceed out under his own power; in fact, he insisted. A strap from a cave pack was tied around the ankle to help support it. The injury later proved to have been quite severe. Surgery was required "to reattach torn ligaments, set bones, and install steel pins." A cast was applied for nine weeks.
There is a tendency in injured people on occasion to deny their injuries, to themselves and others. Possibly this is due to fear of the injury being serious. In any case they will insist that they are OK - those with broken legs will try to walk around, etc. They must be made to resist this, if at all possible. Many injuries can be made more severe if not immobilized immediately.
Steve Tkach injured his ankle while climbing a flowstone slope in Fitton Cave, insisting on exiting the cave himself. The injury required surgery.