Hidden Earth 2024

Cuetzalan, 20 Years On From The First Sump Rescue, and the Future

45 minute Lecture|Steve Whitlock

Abstract

Cuetzalan was forever changed by the events in Mar 2004, when six cavers were rescued via a sump and were on the front page of every western newspaper for 10 days. It was the first rescue of its kind. Following a recent visit on the 20th Anniversary, Steve Whitlock reflects on the 2004 trip, the effects the rescue had on the area, on the lessons that could be learned and on potential future exploration. With over 127km of known cave, the karst around Cuetzalan remains largely unexplored and has the potential to have its cave systems ranked amongst some of the longest in the world.