Rescue from Mingo-Simmons cave - CNN

[John O. Ludwigson]

On the CNN website today, there is this report on a rescue from Mingo-Simmons cave in West Virginia. Note the dateline on the story. I've never been in it, but sounds like people really weren't prepared... Anybody know the cavers or care to offer some comments?

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/25/cave.rescue.ap/index.html

STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania (AP) -- Lost for two days in a seven-mile-long cave in West Virginia, five friends were bruised, shivering and had run out of food and water. Three prayed for help, then heard a faint voice.

"I collapsed and started crying," said Heidi McWilliams, 20. "I thought we were hearing things."

McWilliams and her fellow explorers in the 718-foot-deep Mingo-Simmons cave, 130 miles east of Charleston, were treated for minor injuries and returned Tuesday to their homes in central Pennsylvania, a day after their rescue.

[pacaver]

I don't know the entire crew, but I've caved with Skye and Jason. I consider both to be good cavers, but as we all know things can go wrong. Getting lost in an expansive cave is a real possibility and I'm just glad that they all made it out OK. That's why I prefer yo-yo trips in TAG; the only way you can get lost is on the hike to the pit.

[Scott McCrea]

This incident is already being discussed in the Rescue category here: http://forums.caves.org/viewtopic.php?t=4329. No problem, just tying to keep things in one place.

[John O. Ludwigson]

Thanks, Scott. I just saw the CNN story a few minutes ago and thought people here ought to know about it. Looks like the posters in the Rescue forum have it pretty well sewn up.

John L.