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Archiver > ARIZARD > 2004-10 > 1098825830


From: "Jean Strain" <>
Subject: Re: [ARIZARD-L] Fw: cave rescue
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 16:24:10 -0600
References: <002901c4bba0$a8d3f0c0$2f01a8c0@homewmagncro5p>


Boy~~~I can't believe they didn't learn a lesson from that~~~God wasn't
ready for ANY of them yet!!! Jean in Tx
----- Original Message -----
From: "June Ramsey" <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 3:13 PM
Subject: [ARIZARD-L] Fw: cave rescue


> In case some don't read the Batesville Guard this is a very intresting
story. Doubt if these guys will try that again. June
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: June Ramsey
> To: June Ramsey
> Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 4:02 PM
> Subject: cave rescue
>
>
> Cavers rescued
> By Angelia Roberts, Guard Managing Editor
> Published on 10/26/2004
>
> GUION - Three men who went exploring were rescued "cold, wet, but in good
shape" after rescuers literally pulled them from an abandoned mine around 2
this morning.
>
> Shane Russell, Eric Booth and Scott Barker of Melbourne were rescued after
searchers began looking for them around 7:30 p.m. Monday.
>
> Office of Emergency Services Coordinator Dennis Williams said a search and
rescue team began looking for the three men after someone called one of the
fire department members in Melbourne.
>
> "We located them in a mine down below Guion. They were found inside the
mine, inside a cave. It's what's called the Marsville Mines," Williams said.
>
> Williams said when they arrived, too many people had been inside the mines
so they didn't call for the canine unit from the Arkansas Department of
Correction North Central Unit at Calico Rock.
>
> "There was a young man there who was familiar with the mines, and he knew
about the cave area," Williams said. He told us to start looking for a hole
of water."
>
> Rescuers worked for several hours inside the mine which is 58 degrees year
round. Williams said it was easy to get lost because everything inside looks
the same.
>
> Melbourne Fire Chief Rusty Campbell said the three were rescued after four
men rappelled in.
>
> Campbell said Calico Rock Fire and Rescue volunteers Justin Sanders, Gabe
Sanders, Junior Richardson, as well as John Englehart with the Melbourne
Fire Department, brought the three out.
>
> "We took five men out and left the rest here (Melbourne)," he said.
>
> Justin Sanders said when they arrived they began tracking the three men
throughout the cave. "Even though so many people had been in there, one of
the boys that went in with them had a real distinct footprint."
>
> About a quarter of a mile inside, they found the three in a cave, inside
the mine.
>
> Justin Sanders said apparently the three had crawled in using a makeshift
rope. "After they got back there their flashlights started going dead and
they got lost. Every so often they would holler and we would respond. We
finally made contact," he said.
>
> The three men were "overjoyed" to see them, as well as "wet, tired and
ready to get out of there," Justin Sanders said. "They had huddled up trying
to keep warm."
>
> Campbell said the rescuers found the three men about 1,000 feet in from
where they landed when they had rappelled in. "They then put a harness on
each one and brought them out."
>
> On the trip out, the rescue crew had left markers (glow sticks) to help
them find their way back.
>
> Williams said the three men had taken along several flashlights, and all
but one had burned out.
>
> "They had found a hole with some water in it and they were hungry. They
didn't hesitate; they went home," Williams said.
>
> About 25 to 30 people from Calico Rock, Guion and Melbourne, as well as
the county judge, were part of the search and rescue effort, Williams said.
>
> Williams said it's not uncommon for search and rescue teams to be called
to search the mines for people. "I just wish people would stay out of there;
I'm getting tired of going in there after them."
>
> In and around Guion, abandoned mines are scattered throughout the area.
>
> Campbell told the Guard this morning the Marsville Mines are located in
such a remote area he didn't know if he could find his way back. He said it
was his understanding that the three men go caving on a regular basis. "That
is, until yesterday," he said.
>
> One of the three rescued questioned Justin Sanders about what it would
take to get certified in cave rescue.
>
> "They did say it would be their last. They'd had enough," Justin Sanders
said.
>
>
>
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