A rescue in the French Pyrenees, 700m down

[Ernie Coffman]

A successful rescue--actually a self-rescue for the most part--where three French cavers were trapped because of rising waters, so a safe trip out, with the rescuers meeting them, after the water receded. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/ar ... vQGlmFMZwA

[bronzzhorse]

ummmm.....Explosives experts???? Sounds kinda scary the way they put it..lol

[Ernie Coffman]

Josh, sometimes rescuers need to blast rocks that have come down on a subject, to get them out. It's only one other tool that's involved in a rescue. Of course, if you're just thinking of big bombs...and Hollywood, then that's something to be scary of. I remember in Merry 'Ole England, a number of years ago, when Keith Britain--no pun intended--put a micro blast against a rock that was holding a stuck caver inside a pothole, to free him from being wedged in tightly, similar to what could have been done at Nutty Putty Cave. Ah, well! That's over with!

[bronzzhorse]

oh, i know all about the whole using CONTROLLED explosives in the case of rescue..... i just thought it was funny how they just said "explosives experts" all non-chalante. like it WAS some hollywood thing or something... thats why i said "the way they put it"

[plicpriest1]

I love explosives. Good for anything under the sun. From the 4th of july to mining to takin care of buisiness. Its great.