A woman researching an underground river system in one of Texas’ deepest caves was rescued early Sunday after a falling rock struck her, leaving her trapped nearly 470 feet below ground for more than 17 hours.
The incident began around 7 p.m. Saturday in Sorcerer’s Cave, where the woman was part of a team of cavers from groups across the state. She had started ascending from the River Pit, the cave’s deepest section, when a rock fell from above and hit her helmet and back, causing serious head and back injuries, according to rescue officials.
Her fellow team members provided immediate medical aid and began extracting her from the site.
The operation grew into a complex effort involving more than 60 responders from various agencies, navigating challenging vertical terrain with tight squeezes, cracks, crawlways, and pits dropping 30 to 90 feet.
One particularly difficult passage required moving the injured woman through a 12-by-36-inch ascending squeeze, a feat rescuers noted was tough even for fit, experienced cavers without injuries. The route also included steep drops called the Poltergeist Pit and Demon Drop.
Agents from the U.S. Border Patrol’s Search, Trauma, and Rescue (BORSTAR) team reached the group around 3 a.m. on Sunday, offering additional personnel to assist in hauling her through narrow sections and up two vertical pits. They provided extra ropes to streamline the process, avoiding the need to reposition existing lines, and communicated updates to surface teams for medical coordination.
After nine hours of intensive rescue work, the woman emerged from the cave at about 4:45 a.m. Crews then carried her over rugged terrain to emergency medical services. She was airlifted by AeroCare helicopter to a hospital in Odessa, where she remained in stable condition in the intensive care unit.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Department of Public Safety helped manage the incident and coordinate among responders, including the Terrell County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Game Wardens, Sanderson and Fort Stockton fire departments, Sanderson EMS, the National Cave Rescue Commission, and San Antonio Technical Rescue.
Sorcerer’s Cave sits on private land in remote Terrell County within the Big Bend region. Known for its 567-foot depth and the Sirion River flowing at its base, the site draws scientific researchers but poses significant risks due to its steep, vertical structure.
