Teens faced 'pitch black' swim in cave rescue

[jonsdigs]

Teens faced 'pitch black' underwater swim in cave rescue
Friday, 21 September 2007
NZPA

Six Auckland students are being commended for their bravery after a dramatic cave rescue last night which saw them having to swim two metres under water in darkness to get to safety.

The six Northcote College students aged 14 and 15, their teacher, and a guide were trapped by rising water in the Waipu Caves, 40km south-east of Whangarei for five hours yesterday by rising floodwaters.

The group, part of a Project K team, had been underground in a cave known as "2 tome" since mid-morning.

Another group with one instructor left the caves about 3pm but the remaining group became trapped as heavy rain caused water levels to rise quickly, blocking the cave entrance.

Northland police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said it was a "tough situation" for the group.

While waiting in part of the cave system for their rescue, they were kept warm and dry.

Supporters and rescuers managed to get blankets and warm drinks through to them, and a communication line, Ms Kennett told Radio New Zealand.

Ropes were then passed through and the group and they were pulled through the flooded entrance one at a time.

The Fire Service pumped as much of the water out as it could, but the group were still forced to swim face down underwater, holding a guide rope, for the last two metres, she said.

Full Story

[L Roebuck]

Questions over Waipu rescue
tvnz.co.nz

Questions are being asked about the time it took to tell a school that eight of its pupils were trapped in a cave in Northland.

The company looking after the teenagers admits three hours was too long before calling the school and it has launched an investigation.

The company looking after a group of teenage adventurers who became trapped in caves north of Auckland admit delays in telling their parents and school were far too long.

Full Text

[Sharon Faulkner]

More on this rescue situation:

CAVE RESCUE - Dramatic rescue could have ended in death
22.09.2007
By Saskia Konynenburg and Imran Ali

The dramatic rescue of six teenagers trapped in Waipu Caves could easily have ended in a death, said Northland Search and Rescue boss Senior Sergeant Cliff Metcalfe.

An investigation has been launched into Thursday's drama, which unfolded when a rapidly rising underground stream blocked the group's exit.

At least 60 Search and Rescue personnel, firefighters, police, specialist cave rescuers and medics rushed to the scene near Waipu through a flooded stream and along a muddy track impassable to fire trucks.

Portable pumps were used to pump 2000 litres of water a minute from the blocked cave mouth, but were no match for the rising floodwaters.

Mr Metcalfe said one girl was in a "very serious" condition and all were suffering from hypothermia. "As soon as we got a communication line through we realised the situation was very serious and called for more ambulances. The kids had been in the caves since 8.30am and were very cold and wet. They'd had little food or drink," he said.

Cave rescuers realised the only way for the teens to escape was to dive underwater in pitch darkness and follow a guide rope for three metres.
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