Peacock Slough 1973 "Body recovery"

[Cindy]

I did a body recovery, in the mid 1970's where the newly certified open water diver ( a few hours certified)got lost in a shallow cave over near Mayo - he could see small shafts of light coming down from very small openings in the ground. These holes were maybe 6 inches wide.

He used his head as a battering ram to try and break through and also clawed at the holes. His head looked like a piece of raw hamburger meat and his hands were ripped to shreds. That vision has never left my mind even 30 years later.

Where was that Jim? Owens? Cindy

[Jim Wyatt]

I knew someone would ask....I cannot remember the name of the place, nor could I find it again.

Open water instructors used the basin for o/w training.

The name Owens rings a bell..but I don't recall.

[Cindy]

Just asking because Owens is like that description. Lots of little windows in the cave, depending on water level there is air in some of the rooms. That cave has a nasty dig in river entrance and an equally small sink entrance. Now I can see an open water diver wiggling in but how the H*** did you get the body out? Or should I ask? Cindy

[Moonfuzzy]

I am wondering what motivated you to post this story? Morbid mood? Discussion with another diver? It is a little strange to have out of the blue...

[Cindy]

Maybe he's just working through it. I have seen a lot of people die over the years. Sometimes the stories just kind of pop out. If you tell them to the right people who understand what you are talking about then it not only teaches/reminds people of their motality but give you a change to tuck the monsters away. I never discourage people from talking about that stuff. It's part of life, it's part of our sport. Maybe it just makes you think a little, be just a bit more carefull. Panic doesn't just happen to open water divers. It's there in all of us, waiting for the moment we let down our guard, get cocky, allow too many little things that are wrong to pile up. What ever the reason it's his choice to post these stories and his right in my eyes. Cindy

[scuppertrout]

It's just a story. I didn't think it was morbid at all. I thought it would provoke thought within the the cave diving community. Remind some of how it use to be. Non cave certified divers dieing in caves instead of certified ones. Did I hit a nerve? I don't mean to offend anyone.

[andrebasso]

I am wondering what motivated you to post this story? Morbid mood? Discussion with another diver? It is a little strange to have out of the blue...

scuppertrout
"If anyone is interested I tell you about the first time I went to Peacock Slough. The cops and an ambulance were there when we pulled up."

sludge
"Please post all you have here!"

fw
"ok, i'll bite"

dewayne
"By all means, post the pics and tell the stories"
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