The tragedy of Mossdale Caverns in North Yorkshire, England, occurred on June 24, 1967, when 10 expert cavers, 8 men and 2 women, entered the cave system. The group split into two, with the first group completing their route without incident and returning to the surface. However, the second group, consisting of 6 people, became trapped by rising water due to heavy rainfall. Despite rescue efforts, 5 members of the second group were found dead, and the sixth member, John, was discovered to have died after finding a narrow air pocket in a crack but eventually succumbing to the rising water. The bodies were left in the cave, and the entrance was sealed with cement and an iron door to prevent future access. The incident remains one of the most tragic accidents in the world of caving.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The Mos They'll Cave is a very narrow cave extending over 10 kilometers in North Yorkshire, England.
2. The cave's entrance is located at a height of 600 meters above sea level.
3. The cave is also known for its mysterious tunnels and unknown destinations.
4. The water from the stream in the cave disappears into a deep pool and its endpoint is still unknown.
5. The cave was discovered by Bob Dickey in 1941, who is considered a pioneer in caving circles.
6. A group of explorers decided to enter the cave on June 24, 1967, to expand the existing maps and answer questions about the tunnels.
7. The team consisted of 10 expert cavers, eight men and two women.
8. The team separated into two groups, with the first group completing their route without mishap and returning to the surface.
9. The second group, consisting of six people, intended to go to the known end of the cave and use explosives to widen the passages.
10. A heavy rainstorm caused the water level in the cave to rise, trapping the second group.
11. A rescue campaign was organized, and a team of rescuers entered the cave to search for the trapped group.
12. The rescuers found the bodies of five members of the second group in the marathon passage.
13. One member of the second group, Jon, was missing and later found to have died in a narrow crack in the cave.
14. The bodies of the six deceased cavers were left in the cave, and the tunnel was sealed with cement.
15. A plaque with the names of the deceased was installed in the cave, which is now a restricted area.
16. An iron door was installed at the entrance to prevent anyone from entering the cave again.