‘The fact that all 13 are alive suggests they are level-headed’

DIVER ANDY Eavis knows exactly what it is like to be trapped underground.

The spokesman for the British Caving Association from Hessle, near Hull, has lost count of the close shaves he has had – including being stuck for 55 hours on a shelf in a flooded cave under the Pyrenees in the 1970s. Two Spanish explorers in caves nearby were not so lucky and died.

Panic is a killer in such situations and Mr Eavis said he was surprised to find the youngsters and their coach had survived. He said: “You are prone to panic – but they didn’t.

“They could have crawled off in the darkness and fallen in and drowned and not one did, which is amazing. The very fact that all 13 are alive suggests they are pretty level-headed.”

Mr Eavis, who has spent decades exploring the depths of some of the world’s most spectacular caves, said the British pair were regarded as the “best cave divers in the world”.

The next move, he says, depends entirely on the weather – staying put and waiting for the water levels to drop if it is forecast to stay dry. But if it looks like rain and water levels are rising he expects the pair to “go for it and have the first one coming out quite soon”. Mr Eavis said the group has a 2,296ft (700m) underwater section to negotiate.

“They described it as gnarly – and I think that means there are underwater stalactites which they have to squeeze through.

“Ideally the water level will drop and they will float out with their heads above water. If it doesn’t they will have to dive out. What Rick and John will do is get the most appropriate diving equipment and start with the biggest and bravest (lad) and do a little practice round the pool with a diver each side.

“If he shows any kind of panic they will be there to look after him.”