Tuesday, June 1, 1993

Injured Cave Explorer Dies After Getting Stuck In Exit

A man who plunged 30 feet while touring a cave was found dead Monday while two others trapped along with him during a 17-hour ordeal were rescued, authorities said. William John Coughlin, 27, of Oak Forest, Ill., hit his head when he fell from a rope ladder in Buzzard Roost Historic Cave on Sunday. Six others in his group helped Coughlin, who weighed more than 200 pounds, up a 100-foot climb after the fall, but he became lodged in the narrow, V-shaped passage that is the only exit out of the cave. Four of the group traveling ahead of Coughlin continued on and alerted officials.

Tuesday, June 1, 1993

Injured Cave Explorer Dies After Getting Stuck In Exit

A man who plunged 30 feet while touring a cave was found dead Monday while two others trapped along with him during a 17-hour ordeal were rescued, authorities said. William John Coughlin, 27, of Oak Forest, Ill., hit his head when he fell from a rope ladder in Buzzard Roost Historic Cave on Sunday. Six others in his group helped Coughlin, who weighed more than 200 pounds, up a 100-foot climb after the fall, but he became lodged in the narrow, V-shaped passage that is the only exit out of the cave. Four of the group traveling ahead of Coughlin continued on and alerted officials.