Cave collapse incidents

[Tegg]

The other thread which mentioned Parker got me thinking... How many cave divers have been in full or partial collapse events while cavediving?

Personally, a buddy and I were involved in an entrance collapse at Anderson spring. Very scary time for us, but we made it out by keeping a level head and by the sheer grace of God.

I have been in a couple of systems where sand will sometimes "backfill" you in a bit, but I don't count those because it is just how those restrictions are laid out.

Anyone else been through this type of experience?

[Benderr]

I think there was a guy in France that died last year from a collapse no?

[TONY CHANEY]

The other thread which mentioned Parker got me thinking... How many cave divers have been in full or partial collapse events while cavediving?

Personally, a buddy and I were involved in an entrance collapse at Anderson spring. Very scary time for us, but we made it out by keeping a level head and by the sheer grace of God.

I, for one, am interested in hearing your story. Cae to share it unless you have done so before on here.

[r4e]

In April I was diving a well-known Swedish mine and heard the following reported from another team diving the same branch just after our team: An iron beam collapsed from the tunnel roof and pinned down a diver. He was not able to free himself alone, but, likely his mate noticed the situation and was able to lift/wedge the beam enough the release the diver in trouble.

[Tegg]

I, for one, am interested in hearing your story. Cae to share it unless you have done so before on here.

After I posted this thread, I thought the same thing. I will write something up and concur with the buddy on what I remember vs what he remembers so that it will be as accurate as possible. It was several years ago, so I would want to make sure our memory of the event and steps taken are as close to 100% true as we can remember. We even have some pictures (albeit after we were safe)

[TONY CHANEY]

After I posted this thread, I thought the same thing. I will write something up and concur with the buddy on what I remember vs what he remembers so that it will be as accurate as possible. It was several years ago, so I would want to make sure our memory of the event and steps taken are as close to 100% true as we can remember. We even have some pictures (albeit after we were safe)

Thanks Joe...waiting

[Kelly Jessop]

Caves are very active,and change all the time. I have seen or been in 3 collapse incidents. 1) In a Georgia cave where a sand bank toward the entrance shifted,and sealed off the exit. Took 15 minutes of digging. 2) Section of ceiling in Lafayette Blue let go on me while surveying with a lot of sediment. Not enough debris to trap me,but blew out the cave. 3) Collapse in JB in a side passage,which blew out the whole cave,including the cavern. There are a couple caves I do that have a gradually increasing debris mound over a dome,that I keep seeing change. General rule of thumb-I stay close to the wall versus center of the passage,reduce exhalation bubbles,and one person at a time when crossing this area.

[Duncan Price]

I think there was a guy in France that died last year from a collapse no?

Eric Establie, Dragonniere de Gaud cave in the Ardèche, October 2010. There were ongoing efforts to recover the body afterwards but I don't know the outcome.

I've had a few incidents of mobile gravel slopes temporarily restricting my exit although the risk of this was anticipated and it was a case of digging my way back out again.

The garbage at the entrance to Lost Forty once blocked our exit which was made by swimming though a refrigerator and a crane once fell over ands clipped my fins during a mine dive.

[keri.lewis]

Like Duncan I have had a gravel slope issue in Dragonniere in the Lot in France (probably what the OP termed backfill). I had taken a digging impliment and some additional breathing mix so it was OK. I have also had a couple of dislodged boulder situations with bubbles bringing down debris in Thailand in some new passage with chokes where the bubbles had changed the dynamics around the loose rocks to the point that the choke shifted a bit and dislodged a boulder.. a very hasty retreat!

Are we including collapses in "engineered" passage here? These enlarged/modified sections can bea bit more unstable, and I can think of a few incidents where cavers have had sections come down on them and I assume Duncan can think of quite a few more.

[argyris]

During times I have noticed minor colapses in caves nad and mines i dive frequentyl but I never be a witness. Only incident to report it was a silt out due to an eartquake while we cave dive. But except the reduce of the visibility no anythink else to report.