48 hours trapped 100m underground after a significant underground rock fall at Wombeyan Caves, west of Mittagong;
A diabetic man trapped in Wombeyan Caves Park last weekend faced an excruciating wait for two days with his legs trapped in a rock “squeeze” and his upper body pinned under fallen rocks, says the president of a rescue group that freed him.
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He had been caving alone last Friday and was reported missing by friends on Saturday. Rescuers located him yesterday morning, but he was only freed and brought to the surface several hours later, about 9pm.
The man had been crawling through a “squeeze” – a small cavity that cavers try squeezing through for a challenge – in the Bouverie Cave when rocks came tumbling down onto his chest, said Gary Raymond, president of the Volunteer Rescue Association, which was part of the rescue. … [1]
Wombeyan Caves
Located 176 km south-west of Sydney the Wombeyan Caves (a network of over 230 caverns) have a well deserved reputation as one of the country’s most attractive cave systems. The name is of Aboriginal origin meaning ‘grassy flats between two mountains’.
There is no easy access to the Caves. By far the best access to the caves is via Goulburn and Taralga, on the Oberon Road. The journey takes an hour from Goulburn and only the last 25 km is unsealed.
The location of Bouverie Cave is indicated in the silhouette map as W3 Bouverie [Sydney University Speleological Society]
He said the man was an experienced caver and well-equipped. “But he was alone – you never do an extreme sport alone.” [1]
[1] Trapped caver in survival ‘miracle’ (2008-May-19) [The Age]
[2] Missing caver rescued – Goulburn (2008-May-19) [NSW Police Force ]
[3] Rescued caver ‘lucky to be alive’ (2008-May-19) [ABC]
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