In 2005 a group of young twenty-somethings ventured to a nearby mountainside to partake in some risky cave exploration. Their destination was a small mineshaft submerged in water, known to the local youths as “the cave of death.”
The group consisted of the adventurous Jennifer Galbraith, 21, Scott McDonald, 28, Blake Donner, 24, and Ariel Singer, 18. All four were musically talented and were bandmates. Of course, being young and reckless, the group probably didn’t consider the very real risks that would come with stepping foot in a cave that literally has “death” in its title.
The cave was a death trap
Just one look at this cave (which was actually an abandoned mineshaft), and most sane people would never step foot in it. The “cave” led down to a small hole which in turn led directly into a 15 foot tunnel completely filled with water. At the end of the tunnel was a small opening which was where the four explorers were trying to get to.
Of course, getting to the opening meant holding their breath while they swam down the narrow tunnel as there was no air whatsoever for that 15 foot stretch. To aid them there was a rope going the length of the narrow path but that was it. Visibility was low and movement would kick up mud making it even harder to see.
Nonetheless, the group were determined to go in, it’s only 15 feet after all, what’s the worst that could happen?
The group went in but they didn’t come back out
They had actually come with a fifth friend who wisely decided to stay outside. The friend watched as one by one, his friends clambered down the hole and into the submerged tunnel. Then he waited. He waited and waited and as minutes turned to hours he realized something was horribly wrong.
He ran and brought help back with him but by then it was already too late. The bodies of all four friends were reportedly found in the submerged tunnel with one of the young women being at the front, facing the exit, which suggests they were coming back out. However, the whole group drowned before they could reach the exit.
While it’s not clear what exactly went down, it seems the most likely scenario was that the low visibility made it hard for the first person to find the exit hole. Once they drowned, it would have been impossible for the others to get past her due to the tightness of the tunnel. One by one they went into the tunnel, only to find the way blocked by the corpses of their friends.
The small opening on the other side of the tunnel was airtight so it’s also possible that with four people breathing in that little air pocket, the carbon monoxide built up to the point it was deadly. That would mean they had no choice but to risk the watery tunnel to get back.
After the bodies were recovered “the cave of death” was sealed off by authorities to prevent any similar tragedies in the future.
