| Name | Age | Sex | Injuries | Injured areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerace, Christine | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded |
On April 6, three cavers were exploring in Up and Down Cave, Rockcastle County, Kentucky. To get to the bottom of a pit the group descended an adjacent 70-foot, narrow chimney. Two of the group got down quickly and went off to check out leads, out of voice communication with the third. The latter, Christine Gerace, was descending this chimney and in a place where she had to traverse over a place too narrow to get through. She slipped and became wedged at the chest, breaking three ribs. Her breathing was greatly restricted and was growing increasingly difficult. There were no footholds or handholds within reach. She shouted to no avail. Finally she was able to throw her pack strap over a projection and pull herself up. Unable to convince her companions that she was injured, and in a state of shock, she continued to cave for a while before the group left the cave.
As O'Dell stresses, a party is much less safe if it does not stay together. This is especially true if the last person is left behind and at especially hazardous points, like a drop or breakdown area. This victim could easily have been a fatality. Surely one of the most important rules in group caving is: Keep track of the person behind you.
Christine Gerace fell and became wedged while descending a narrow chimney in Up and Down Cave, breaking three ribs and encountering difficulty breathing.