Crews Free Trapped Man In Cave Alabama Man Falls 15-20 Feet While In Franklin County Cave POSTED: 8:10 am CDT May 30, 2011 UPDATED: 7:19 pm CDT May 30, 2011
WINCHESTER, Tenn. -- Rescue crews in Franklin County were able to free an Alabama man at about 6 p.m. Monday who injured himself and became trapped in a cave near the Sherwood community. The 51-year-old Huntsville, Ala., spelunker fell into the Sinking Cove Cave around 3 p.m. Sunday. His name is not being released. Crews worked through the night and were finally able to rescue him successfully around 6 p.m. Monday. The rescue effort was complicated because of the geographic layout of the terrain, said Franklin County Sgt. Chris Guess. The caver was transported to Erlanger Medical Center for treatment after the 15-20 foot fall. He is believed to have a broken pelvis, injured back, wrist and rib cage according to officials. The severity of those injuries has not been released. About 60 volunteers helped to free the man, including rescuers from Huntsville, Chattanooga and Knoxville. Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller said the cave opening was low and narrow, and they had make the opening larger. Crews had to cut through rock in order to reach the caver. _http://www.wsmv.com/news/28070109/detail.html_ (http://www.wsmv.com/news/28070109/detail.html)
