| Name | Age | Sex | Injuries | Injured areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stecko, Doug | 31 | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded |
On March 20 a group of three cavers was in Tiger Cave in the Toledo District of Belize in Central America. About a mile into the cave they came to a nine foot high, overhung up-climb. This had been rigged with a piece of rope with foot loops tied every two feet. Two of the group ascended, unbelayed, without difficulty, but when Doug Stecko (31) reached the top loop, he lost his balance and fell back, landing on his head and shoulder. The other two returned immediately and found the victim conscious but "somewhat incoherent" and unable to stand. Packs and clothing were placed on Stecko to keep him warm. This group was part of a large Miami Valley Grotto (NSS) expedition so one companion left for help. Fifteen minutes later Stecko was able to walk and left the cave under his own power. He still has a 50 per cent hearing loss in his left ear.
Stecko reports that their "excitement as they approached virgin cave probably encouraged inadequate safety precautions." The group saw that the loops were tied too far apart before they started climbing, but the first man up didn't bother to re-tie them. I think this accident points up the flaw in the use of cable ladders, or as in this case, a rope ladder, for vertical work: When one is in a hurry, a belay is easy to put off, mentally. If a drop is rigged with a rope and one prusiks, you are tied to the rope, whether in a hurry or not. Yet, if there is only one drop in a long stretch of cave, it is tempting to use ladders so that vertical gear need not be hauled a long distance for a single use. In the process of hurrying to the victim, one companion descended the rope ladder so hurriedly that he received a large cut on one leg and a bad bruise on one arm. A rescuer almost became a victim. In a remote setting such as this, one should use greater precaution than usual. Even a nine foot drop is serious if it is overhung so that it would be difficult to land on one's feet in case of a fall.
A climber, Doug Stecko, fell while ascending a rigged rope ladder, resulting in a significant injury including 50% hearing loss in his left ear.