Have-a-go cavers take wrong turn
Ill-prepared and with the wrong equipment, three have-a-go cavers sparked a late-night rescue at the weekend.
John Patterson was one of an 11-strong team of cave rescuers who headed to Tākaka Hill in Tasman on Saturday night after two inexperienced cavers became stuck on a rope.
Patterson, who has more than 40 years caving under his belt, described the trio as ‘‘noncavers’’. The group, who entered the complex Tākaka Hill cave system without the landowner’s knowledge, planned a certain route. However, they took a wrong turn, Patterson said.
‘‘The pitch [a steep or vertical section] they went down was bigger and more complex than what they thought they were going down.’’ The pitch was a multistage descent: a series of three ropes, Patterson said.
‘‘On the second rope, [the first caver] realised things were not what they were expecting because they were hanging over a 70m pitch. He got quite a way back up but was not able to go up any further.’’ The situation was compounded by the group’s equipment: ropes more suited to climbing than caving.
A second caver went to help, Patterson said. ‘‘But then both of them were stuck on the rope.’’
The remaining caver headed out of the cave system and called for police, who summoned the cave rescue team about 7pm.
A Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter crew picked up experienced cavers and equipment from Nelson and Motueka, while other team members drove to the site. They were joined by a police search and rescue team, and an ambulance.
Altogether, 11 cavers attended, with more co-ordinating from Nelson and others on standby, Patterson said. Two cave rescuers made their way to the suspended cavers, setting up a counter-balance system to get them off the rope, before helping them to the top of the pitch.
There, they were met by three more rescuers.
‘‘They gave them a hot chocolate and reassured them, and then set about assisting them out of the cave with assisted hauls,’’ Patterson said.
The group left the cave about 1.30am. Other than soreness from several hours of rope suspension, the cavers were uninjured, Patterson said.
Patterson said the would-be cavers’ attempt was ill-advised.
‘‘They were ill-prepared for the trip, the equipment was not the type of equipment cavers use. It is a cave that requires experience and knowledge.’’
He was grateful for his team of experienced cavers who had dropped everything to attend on a Saturday night and for the support of the search and rescue team.
‘‘On the second rope, [the first caver] realised things were not what they were expecting because they were hanging over a 70m pitch.’’ John Patterson, rescue team member