Cavers not recovered from cave
- Thread starter Graham Proudlove
- Start date
Stuart France
Active member
Forgive me for mentioning the distress that accidental death, particularly in pursuing private interests, has on family and close friends. The trauma of losing a loved one in tragic circumstances may never be completely closed, but it is best not re-opened.
So discussing or even attempting a difficult recovery long after the event needs to be put into context. On occasion, reflection has been necessary and, I think, the right decisions were then quietly made.
So discussing or even attempting a difficult recovery long after the event needs to be put into context. On occasion, reflection has been necessary and, I think, the right decisions were then quietly made.
Steve Clark
Well-known member
As a tragic example, last week was the 20th anniversary of Dave Shaw's death in Bushman's Hole, South Africa. He was attempting a body recovery of Deon Dreyer at 270m water depth, 10 years after the initial death. The recovery didn't go to plan and it resulted in Dave's death. Both bodies were recovered by virtue of them of them becoming entangled in the shotline and hauled to the surface several days later.
I can't believe that those consequences or the subsequent media attention and documentary did anything to provide closure for any of the families involved.
I can't believe that those consequences or the subsequent media attention and documentary did anything to provide closure for any of the families involved.
Martin Laverty
Active member
An unfortunate addition to this thread comes in news of a 'hunter' (perhaps looking for birds nests?) found dead three days ago in 'a narrow cave near Sungai Temala', a river in the Middle Baram region of northern Sarawak:
https://www.theborneopost.com/2025/02/04/missing-hunter-found-dead-in-baram-cave/
The cave is not named but Neville Haile of the British Borneo Geological Survey noted caves in the Temala Valley over sixty years ago. The late Dave Gill compiled a detailed description of the region, published in BCRA's Cave and Karst Science v47(1) in 2020, but was unable to relocate any caves in the Tamala (sic) karst.
https://www.theborneopost.com/2025/02/04/missing-hunter-found-dead-in-baram-cave/
The cave is not named but Neville Haile of the British Borneo Geological Survey noted caves in the Temala Valley over sixty years ago. The late Dave Gill compiled a detailed description of the region, published in BCRA's Cave and Karst Science v47(1) in 2020, but was unable to relocate any caves in the Tamala (sic) karst.
