NewsChannel 13 has new details on a cave rescue in Columbia Co.
CANAAN, N.Y. (WNYT)- A Brooklyn man was freed after rescuers spent hours reaching him in a tight cave crevice in Columbia County.
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The man was spelunking with friends in Merlin’s Cave in Canaan on the evening of May 17 when he slipped and got wedged in a tight space.
Rescuers from the National Cave Rescue Commission and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) began what officials described as a difficult rescue operation. DEC Forest Ranger Lt. John Gullen said the man was trapped in a narrow crevice.
“His whole body was stuck in a crevice that was basically designed the exact shape of him,” Gullen said.
With temperatures at 50 degrees underground and 100-percent humidity, hypothermia was a major concern.
“But it was clear he was really jammed in by this one nub of rock that was pinning his rib cage and also on his back,” Gullen said.
The only option was to get a hammer drill into the tight spot to chip away rock and free him. Gullen said it took nearly two hours to get the drill down into that space and he stayed with the man to keep him calm.
“He was stuck for a total of six hours unable to move in basically in any direction. For most people, that’s like their worst nightmare,” Gullen said.
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Finally, another team member crawled in with the drill and began breaking away rock near the man’s body.
“Then I started to get to work. I was drilling you know inches from the subject’s head and back so I had to be very careful,” Gullen said.
After a small piece of rock was removed, the man was able to wiggle free and get to safety.
“Once we were able to get to a point where we could high five, we were high fiving. He was quite happy,” Gullen said.
For Related Stories: Rescue New York State Department of Environmental Conservation National Cave Rescue Commission Columbia County