Fatal accident in the Dales cave system in the UK

A 49-year-old cave diver has died in the UK. The man was taking part in the exploration of the Dales cave system, one of the largest located in the British Isles. Dozens of rescuers took part in the search and rescue operation. The body of the missing man was found at a site known as Lancaster Hole.

The man was reported missing on Saturday, January 4, at around 5 p.m. In addition to police, 40 rescuers from the Cave Rescue Organisation, as well as members of the Cave Diving Group, joined the search and rescue operation.

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“We conducted the search from the point where the cave diver entered Lancaster Hole. We also checked other entrances and places where exit was possible. Unfortunately, while conducting an underwater search, one of the rescuers came across the body of the missing man about 60 metres from the manhole. All members of the team were then instrumental in carrying out the long and difficult recovery of the casualty back to the surface,” a spokesman for the Cave Rescue Organisation said in an official statement.

Lancaster Hole is part of the interconnected limestone caves that span Cumbria, Lancashire and the Yorkshire Dales and are known as the Three Counties System. It is a long, flooded section of cave that is very popular and actively explored by spelo-divers. The cave is still not fully explored and successive expeditions have ventured further and further mapping the area. Currently, the site is penetrated at a distance of 900 metres from the entrance to this section.

Source: Cave Rescue Organisation