FIFTY-SIX, Ark. (AP) _ A current attempt to rescue a dozen boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in Thailand is rekindling memories of a similar event occurring in Arkansas more than 50 years ago.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports four spelunkers were trapped for more than a day by floodwaters in Stone County’s Rowland Cave in 1965. The explorers hoped to see whether the cave was connected to Blanchard Springs Cavern. But when they turned around, the entrance was blocked by rising waters.
Rescuers helped the stranded men scuba dive out. A U.S. Navy diver died of a heart attack soon after taking one spelunker to shore.
The rescue operation continues for the Thai soccer team, who’ve been trapped for nearly two weeks. A former member of the Thai navy’s SEAL team died early Friday while volunteering on the mission.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI