Researcher Rescued from Deep Cave 11 Hours After Being Hit in the Head by a Rock

A researcher was rescued from a 567-foot-deep cave in Texas after being seriously injured during a research expedition.

On Saturday, Feb. 15, a team of 18 researchers descended into Sorcerer’s Cave to study its underground river. As they began climbing back toward the surface, a rock broke loose and struck a female researcher in the head at about 6 p.m. local time.

Terrell County Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland said her helmet was cracked and knocked out of place, and she suffered a fractured skull and injuries to her vertebrae. Although the group included a nurse, officials said they needed additional help to safely exit the remote cave.

Rescuers used ropes, pulleys, and harnesses to bring the team out. The U.S. Border Patrol’s Search, Trauma, and Rescue Team (BORSTAR) assisted alongside multiple local and state agencies, including area fire departments, emergency medical services, and law enforcement.

Cleveland said the injured researcher was airlifted to a hospital in Odessa, where she is recovering. He credited rapid coordination among responders for preventing the situation from becoming far worse and noted that cave exploration can quickly turn dangerous even with careful preparation.

Officials said the team was unable to notify authorities until about 9 p.m. because of the cave’s depth and vertical structure. Crews worked through the night and brought the group out around 5 a.m.

Cleveland later said the team had climbed back to about 470 feet below the surface when the rock fell. He explained that it took roughly three hours to reach the surface after the initial injury, at which point the group was able to call 911.

The researcher is now in stable condition. Cleveland said she remained determined throughout the approximately 11-hour rescue and was able to help get herself out despite the severity of her injuries.