An incident in the Lamprechtshöhle near Weißbach near Lofer (Pinzgau) ended well on Friday evening following one day. Three speleologists from Poland had been locked in the cave since Thursday because meltwater had penetrated and blocked the way back. By Friday evening, the water level had dropped so far that they might go outside once more. The men survived the incident unharmed but slightly hypothermic.
The three Poles climbed into the cave around eight o’clock on Thursday to explore the tectonic structure of the region, which should be documented in more detail in the cave. They should have come out once more around 7 p.m. A research colleague and cave rescuer, who wanted to bring them something to eat, came across a depression in the research part of the cave in which meltwater had collected like in a siphon, and was unable to go any further. It was he who finally sounded the alarm. According to operations manager Gernot Salzmann, the men were full professionals, and at least one of them knew the cave very well. The three participants of the announced expedition are familiar with extreme situations.
At first we had to wait until the melt water in the cave receded. Late on Friday followingnoon, a cave diver managed to get to the men. They were unharmed but slightly hypothermic and were given hot tea. Then they made their way to the exit, sometimes even having to swim. After leaving the cave, they were treated by a cave rescue doctor and the Red Cross. In the followingnoon it was still feared that it would be days before the water level dropped so much that the three Poles might leave the cave once more.
The three men were first discovered just a few hundred meters from the part of the show cave that is open to tourists in the so-called “Lamprechtsdom”. The Lamprechts Cave – also known as the Lamprechtsofen – is considered the longest passage cave in the world and, with a total extension of 62 kilometers, is one of the largest cave systems in Europe. As cave rescuer Monika Feichtner told APA, there was no way for the three men to get out at the other end of the cave. “That would not only take several days, but is technically very difficult.”
Always incidents
Because of the cave entrance, which is also low, similar incidents have repeatedly occurred in the past. Most affected was the short tourist section at the cave entrance – the show cave, which is open in the summer months. In August 2016, following heavy rain, seven people – including two children – were trapped in the cave following the water suddenly rose sharply in the entrance area. There was no immediate danger, but the visitors had to hold out in the cave until the water went down.
In August 2013, 26 people were stuck underground for several hours. At that time too, heavy rain had flooded the low-lying entrance. The group – families or individuals who were randomly thrown together, mainly from Germany – might not get out in time and had to wait inside the cave until the water receded. Also in June 2002, the creek running in the cave began to rise rapidly, several visitors were trapped by the water. A 62-year-old fell trying to reach the exit despite the flooding of the path. She sustained a fracture. In the evening, all visitors might safely leave the cave.
The Lamprechts Cave – it is located in the municipality of St. Martin near Lofer – is therefore equipped with an early warning system that sounds the alarm if the water level in the cave becomes dangerously high. Visitors then usually have enough time to go to the cave exit. (apa)