| Name | Age | Sex | Injuries | Injured areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not recorded | 20 | Male | Twisted knee | Knee |
On 15 March a group of three experienced cavers entered Little Mammoth Cave, turned into the Rimstone River passage 0.7 mile in, and proceeded to crawl for some distance before turning back because of possible rain outside (portions of the passage flood during heavy storms). On their way out of the crawl they came upon a youth about 20 years old whose carbide light failed just as they reached him. Although he had a can of carbide with him, he did not know how to change the carbide in his lamp. He told the following story:
He was with a group that had taken the main stream passage, but had twisted his knee and decided to turn back. The group refused to turn back with him, nor would any of them accompany him out. On the way out (alone), he mistakenly turned into the Rimstone River passage and was, when found, starting to crawl - although he had not had to crawl on the way in.
He was helped safely out of the cave.
Source: Jim Buss
Analysis: The accident was a twisted knee but the potential accident was far worse, save for the chance presence of other cavers. At the point the boy's light failed - in the wrong passage - he had behind him a tricky ledge and before him a long, difficult crawl. The group he had entered the cave with had acted in a thoughtless and callous manner, endangering the safety, and possibly the life, of one of their companions.
This record was last updated on 27th Apr 2024 at 23:11 UTC.