Rescue at Gautries.

droid

droid

Active member
dunc said:
No idea for the Peak, but there was that well documented dive-out in the Dales in 1992 from Sleets Gill.
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Reading the BBC report a bit more carefully, it doesn't specify a dive-out by DCRO....so i think you've got it, Dunc. ;)
 
Pitlamp

Pitlamp

Well-known member
paul said:
droid said:
No, Paul. I can recognise genuine pisstaking (done enough of it myself on here)....I was just clearing the air a bit on my own account.

And no-ones answered my question as to the last dive-out rescue....was it Didos'?
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The Didos Cave rescue was in 1982 which is 31 years ago. I don't have a list of call outs before 1998 (as on the DCRO website) so there may have been another diving related incident 20 years ago in 1993 or thereabouts (after Didos and earlier than 1998) in the Peak District.


Anyone else know?
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Purely from memory, I think there have been related Peak callouts but it never actually came to diving someone out as things panned out. (An incident at P8 with an overdue Orpheus diver springs to mind here.) However, incidents where divers help cavers out of wet predicaments do crop up regularly in the Dales and on Mendip. (Examples include Lost Johns, Crystal Cave, Meregill, Sleets Gill, Swildons, Swildons, Swildons . . . . . ) This fact has (correctly) been used as justification for devoting money to diving equipment over the years; the most recent example being the BCRC's acquisition of new standardised lightweight full face masks.

If you take a national rescue perspective, there is nothing unusual about divers helping cavers out of a wet spot.

 
Badlad

Badlad

Administrator
Staff member
Great video, thanks for that Rob - brought back some poignant memories I can tell you.  I did exactly the same thing as Philip but some seven years before this incident when I was fifteen.  I went through the duck first and ended up in a sump instead.  It was very confusing but I reached the same airbell.  Apparently our group leader counted down four minutes then declared I was dead and headed out of the cave to call out cave rescue.  It was bloody cold in the airbell and pretty dam scary.  I was dressed in normal clothes with a cotton boiler suit over the top and I had a cheap hand held rubber torch which still worked after being submerged.  Luckily one of my fifteen year old mates dived down and could see my light flashing.  Shamefully I can't be sure of his name now, but he was bloody brave because he dived the sump with a rope all the way, some 25 feet, to the airbell and I was able to make my escape.  We met our group leader and DCRO as we walked back to the minibus.  I remember shivering uncontrollably and being taken to a nearby pub to warm up in front of the fire.  The lady there made me the most delicious tasting sweet tea I have ever drunk to date.



 
mulucaver

mulucaver

Member
Badlad said:
Great video, thanks for that Rob - brought back some poignant memories I can tell you.  I did exactly the same thing as Philip but some seven years before this incident when I was fifteen.  I went through the duck first and ended up in a sump instead.  It was very confusing but I reached the same airbell.  Apparently our group leader counted down four minutes then declared I was dead and headed out of the cave to call out cave rescue.  It was bloody cold in the airbell and pretty dam scary.  I was dressed in normal clothes with a cotton boiler suit over the top and I had a cheap hand held rubber torch which still worked after being submerged.  Luckily one of my fifteen year old mates dived down and could see my light flashing.  Shamefully I can't be sure of his name now, but he was bloody brave because he dived the sump with a rope all the way, some 25 feet, to the airbell and I was able to make my escape.  We met our group leader and DCRO as we walked back to the minibus.  I remember shivering uncontrollably and being taken to a nearby pub to warm up in front of the fire.  The lady there made me the most delicious tasting sweet tea I have ever drunk to date.
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I remember both rescues and yes, that video brought back some memories. I used to dive with Chris, not seen him for many years.
IIRC you dived too far and went past the duck and on into the sump.
 
P

Pipster

Member
Yeah, great vid! I remember watching it on TV as a kid; I never realised it was in Matlock!

Is Dido's cave still accessible? Much to it? I've never been.... will check COTPD tonight...

Interesting story Badlad!  :eek: Thanks for sharing.

 
paul

paul

Moderator
Pipster said:
Is Dido's cave still accessible? Much to it? I've never been.... will check COTPD tonight...
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From current DCA Hand book (see the DCA website to download as fee PDF)

DIDOʼS CAVE (Nether Hagg Mine):
Best approached from Matlock Bath along river bank. No known access restrictions.
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I suppose you're going to dive the sump as well? :)
 
P

Pipster

Member
Pipster said:
Is Dido's cave still accessible? Much to it? I've never been.... will check COTPD tonight...
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Caves of the Peak District]Totally mined except for short natural sections said:
From current DCA Hand book (see the DCA website to download as fee PDF)
DIDOʼS CAVE (Nether Hagg Mine):
Best approached from Matlock Bath along river bank. No known access restrictions.
Click to expand...
I suppose you're going to dive the sump as well? :)
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Thanks Paul - and think I'll keep clear of the sumps! ;)
 
Pitlamp

Pitlamp

Well-known member
As always, if you want sump information, look to Cave Diving Group publications.

The most recent full Peak District Sump Index was published in 1994, with an Update in 1997. The information in there about the site in question is still (I think) up to date. Don't think either volume is available to buy now but good club libraries should have both.

Meanwhile, there is a brand new CDG Peak District Sump Index in the pipeline . . .
 
bograt

bograt

Active member
paul said:
droid said:
No, Paul. I can recognise genuine pisstaking (done enough of it myself on here)....I was just clearing the air a bit on my own account.

And no-ones answered my question as to the last dive-out rescue....was it Didos'?
Click to expand...

The Didos Cave rescue was in 1982 which is 31 years ago. I don't have a list of call outs before 1998 (as on the DCRO website) so there may have been another diving related incident 20 years ago in 1993 or thereabouts (after Didos and earlier than 1998) in the Peak District.


Anyone else know?

I recall being on a diving rescue call out down Bagshaw but can't remember the date, it was after the Dido's incident, (mid to late 80's?) a schoolboy fatality.
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B

BOG

New member
Can anybody tell me the current water levels in Gautries , I don't want to be the subject of this thread , we were thinking of a trip tonight. If we get sumped in my caps lock could get stuck.
cheers Bog :spank:
 
Rob

Rob

Well-known member
BOG said:
Can anybody tell me the current water levels in Gautries , I don't want to be the subject of this thread , we were thinking of a trip tonight. If we get sumped in my caps lock could get stuck.
cheers Bog :spank:
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With the ground saturated as it is at the moment, water levels in there are so rapidly changeable so it's very hard to say.

My guess is that it's currently open, and that with the forecasted rain it shouldn't flood. However we've cancelled this evening's digging trip just in case.

If you were planning a very quick trip it would be less risky...
 
cavermark

cavermark

New member
Regarding dive out rescue - when the sheffield Hallam uni lot (Wayne, Ian et al) were flooded into Peak (15years ago?), did they get dived out - or had divers gone in then the water dropped enough for them to walk out?
 
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