No injured cavers recorded.
A large group of cavers from the University of Texas were practicing vertical techniques in Pumkin Pit. The pit has a large, wide entrance which drops 50 feet to a breakdown-covered floor. Since there were more people than sets of vertical gear, equipment had to be passed up and down the rope. A set of equipment was accidentally dropped and it hit a caver below on the hand. The impact was hard enough and startling enough to send him into shock. He remained seated, but when his companions tried to question him, he went limp and slumped to his side. He came back to normal within a few minutes.
The fellow had probably gone into psychogenic shock where a sudden dilation of the blood vessels momentarily interrupts the flow of blood to the brain causing fainting. Fortunately when the body goes limp the blood supply to the brain is improved and the faint passes.
Falling objects are one of the greatest hazards in exploring pits.
A caver suffered a brief period of psychogenic shock after equipment was dropped on his hand.