BROOKLYN, New York (WCBS) \u2014 Not many people can say they were rescued out of a cave, but Brooklyn resident Aidan Kaminer sure can.<\/p>\n
Now in good health, he spoke out Thursday about last month\u2019s lengthy rescue mission in upstate New York.<\/p>\n
Aidan Kaminer\u2019s ordeal<\/p>\n
For six hours on May 17, during a trip to Merlin\u2019s Cave in Columbia County, Kaminer, of Bushwick, was stuck in an awkward position. He was with at least six other explorers when he slipped into a slim crevice just before the cave\u2019s exit.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was sideways, 90 degrees, one arm under the rock shelf, one arm above with my legs out,\u201d Kaminer said.<\/p>\n
It took six hours, but Bushwick, Brooklyn resident Aidan Kaminer was eventually freed from a crevice he got stuck in inside Merlin\u2019s Cave in Columbia County back in mid May.<\/p>\n
Those who were with him called 911 immediately. Firefighters showed up within minutes, but more was needed to get him out.<\/p>\n
\u201cBasically, I was pinned at the chest and the hip and I had energy, but I couldn\u2019t pull myself out,\u201d Kaminer said. \u201cI was shivering at some points, but, again, I was okay because I had a lot of great people with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Forest Rangers to the rescue<\/p>\n
John Gullen, a lieutenant Forest Ranger with the Department of Environmental Conservation, who is familiar with caves and rescues, helped get Kaminer out of the cave. He said the 50-degree, 100% humidity conditions exposed Kaminer to risks of hypothermia.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was really jammed in there more than I had expected. Like, his full body was stuck in a crevice that was basically in the shape of him,\u201d Gullen said.<\/p>\n
What took all those hours was getting the right equipment to cut out the rock around Kaminer without injuring him. Gullen said it ended up being 20 minutes of drilling, but could\u2019ve taken much longer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had even told my wife, \u2018Hey, not sure when I\u2019m gonna be back. This could be a multiple-day event,’\u201d Gullen said. \u201c[Kaminer] did a phenomenal job of staying calm. I don\u2019t know if there are many people who could stay calm.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kaminer said he was able to do so because he never really felt like his life was in danger.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt no point was I thinking, \u2018Shoot, this is the end of my days,’\u201d Kaminer said. \u201cYou just sort of get into that mode and do what you need to do to make sure that it turns out the best way that it can.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI would go again this weekend\u201d An experience like the one he went through might deter many people from going caving again, but not Kaminer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would go again this weekend if there was a trip full of experienced cavers I could go with as friends. I would do it in a few days, maybe just not that specific cave,\u201d Kaminer said.<\/p>\n
After some warm Gatorade and Reese\u2019s chocolate, and, eventually, a bagel, Kaminer, a vegetarian and intermediate caver, stayed at the local fire captain\u2019s house overnight. Kaminer said the best takeaways from his experience was making new friends with his rescuers and remembering to always go with a group of experienced cavers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a sense, I had the easiest job there, essentially had to be patient. I had to freeze. I had to trust that the rescue was going to get done and, thankfully, they did,\u201d Kaminer said.<\/p>\n
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