When Things Go Wrong

[LiteHedded]

That's not what I heard - too big to fit WHERE THE STUDENTS WENT, not where he told them to go.


Think about that, you tell your students to take the second jump to the left, but they take the first, through a restriction that you can't fit through. You flash your light to get their attention, but they have already turned the corner. What do you do?

Well, I would probably wait there for as long as I had the gas, but if I knew Edd was at the surface prepping for a dive (practically everybody at the pavilion knows what others' plans are) I would consider going and getting him.

Remember, I'm just playing devil's advocate here...

in all the time while they were putting in the jump down the wrong passage he couldn't stop them? sounds odd to me.

and I'm not sure what I'd do. if I knew superman was waiting right around the corner I'd probably go get him too

[Jax]

That's not what I heard - too big to fit WHERE THE STUDENTS WENT, not where he told them to go.

Think about that, you tell your students to take the second jump to the left, but they take the first, through a restriction that you can't fit through. You flash your light to get their attention, but they have already turned the corner. What do you do?

Well, I would probably wait there for as long as I had the gas, but if I knew Edd was at the surface prepping for a dive (practically everybody at the pavilion knows what others' plans are) I would consider going and getting him.

Remember, I'm just playing devil's advocate here...

in all the time while they were putting in the jump down the wrong passage he couldn't stop them? sounds odd to me.

and I'm not sure what I'd do. if I knew superman was waiting right around the corner I'd probably go get him too

That's kind of what I was thinking . . . IF the instructor couldn't get to the students, AND he knew someone was available that could (and wasn't the instructor blessed it WAS Superman), then, in spite of what went before, he made the very best decision he could have, after the situation went FUBAR.

After all, we can't learn much from "stupid decision", but we can learn from actions.

[deepairmike]

What if the students went thru a hole the instructor couldn't fit thru??? Do you just sit and wait??

[LiteHedded]

What if the students went thru a hole the instructor couldn't fit thru??? Do you just sit and wait??

I don't know

[jj1987]

That's not what I heard - too big to fit WHERE THE STUDENTS WENT, not where he told them to go.


Think about that, you tell your students to take the second jump to the left, but they take the first, through a restriction that you can't fit through. You flash your light to get their attention, but they have already turned the corner. What do you do?

Well, I would probably wait there for as long as I had the gas, but if I knew Edd was at the surface prepping for a dive (practically everybody at the pavilion knows what others' plans are) I would consider going and getting him.

Remember, I'm just playing devil's advocate here...

Might be a good idea not to take students to a cave you're not familiar with. I'm not familiar with IANTD training standards and if it's required, but it seems like a logical idea. After that rule is broken, I would think stopping students once you see the passage is getting near sidemount size and you're all in backmount would also be a good idea.

Beyond that, I would leave a light and/or note on the line stating I've exited the cave. Since it's a training situation I wouldn't be surprised if the students see that and think it's a drill, then exit calmly. Certainly can't be worse than just leaving.

That's kind of what I was thinking . . . IF the instructor couldn't get to the students, AND he knew someone was available that could (and wasn't the instructor blessed it WAS Superman), then, in spite of what went before, he made the very best decision he could have, after the situation went FUBAR.

After all, we can't learn much from "stupid decision", but we can learn from actions.

I think this is not the way to "learn" from this accident, or at least not the lesson we need to take away from it. Reminds me of running out of gas while driving the interstate and wondering if setting cruise control or keeping a steady foot on the gas and not moving it those last 5 miles would have saved enough gas to get you to the gas station. The fixable issue is what got you there-- fill up sooner. Once you're nearly out of gas there just isn't a good solution.

[Shocky]

Talked to Ed, suffice to say he brought two people back to life. What ever award is out there should be given, perhaps a county or state lifesaving award. If I could, I would pin a Soldiers Medel on him today.
John

[Kevin Carlisle]

Given the fact that he is in one of the more predominant sm places around, and he knew he couldn't help the students, and that he had Edd as well as Jeff Loflin there I think that was the right decision. Not knowing the cave well enough was a poor choice though. He should have did a recon dive before class started.

[Johnoly]

That's not what I heard - too big to fit WHERE THE STUDENTS WENT, not where he told them to go .....

Ben, Hey Ben,,,,You in there?

[gschaut]

Well Done Edd!!!

Having nothing else to say, I have said all that I will say about this subject.

[LiteHedded]

Talked to Ed, suffice to say he brought two people back to life. What ever award is out there should be given, perhaps a county or state lifesaving award. If I could, I would pin a Soldiers Medel on him today.
John

Ed or Edd?
they were both there that day