• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Caver will 'never forget the sound' of water filling world's deepest cave

Home> News

Published 17:38 3 Jun 2023 GMT+1

Caver will 'never forget the sound' of water filling world's deepest cave

That's a pretty terrifying prospect

Kit Roberts

Kit Roberts

A group of cavers at the bottom of the world's deepest cave had to fight to survive after water started to fill the hole, with one opening up about how it was a sound he'll never forget.

In September 2018 the group had been exploring the cave in the hopes of documenting unknown crevices and perhaps even discovering new species of animal which lurked in its dingiest depths.

But three days into their trip, disaster struck.

The group were stationed at the bottom of the 2,212-metre-deep Veryovkina Cave in Abkhazia, which is a breakaway region from Georgia, back in 2018 when they received an alarming warning of impending danger.

Advert

Two colleagues who were further up the cave issued a warning call to them that they were approaching the risk of gushing water, but the team initially weren't worried and thought they were safe.

Eight cavers were stationed at the bottom of the cave.
Petr Lyubimov/Wikicommons

It wasn't long before worry did kick in though, as a trickling sound near their tent grew louder and louder.

Caving is dangerous at the best of times, with the risk of becoming trapped or injured while a long way away from help increasing the danger. However, adding water into an enclosed space with no escape is a recipe for catastrophe.

One of the cavers - photographer Robbie Shone - recounted the moment the team first heard the water, explaining: "I just thought, ‘Oh my goodness. We have to leave right now. We cannot wait. If we just hang around, we’re all going to die.’

Advert

"The most enormous torrent of white water appeared out of this hole, and I just stood opened-mouthed at the sight of this huge white wall of water entering our little home.

“It got louder and louder. I will never forget that sound.”

Caver Marcos Vilariño González makes his way past the flooded passage 1400m down.
Petr Lyubimov/Wikicommons

The force of the water was so strong that Shone said it was like his head was being 'squashed into my shoulders' as it came gushing down onto him.

Shone added that 'all hell broke loose' as the group scrambled to leave the dangerous cave, which left them ditching all their gear and beginning the mile-long ascent to safety.

Advert

After being separated, the team managed to ascend to a camp stocked with food and medical supplies, though this only came after they pushed through a narrow shaft with a cascading torrent of water to a safer place. From there they managed to take the ascent to the complete safety of the surface.

Featured Image Credit: Petr Lyubimov/Wikicommons

Topics: News, World News

Kit Roberts
Kit Roberts

Kit joined LADbible Group in 2023 as a community journalist. They previously worked for StokeonTrentLive, the Daily Mirror, and the Daily Star.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Man horrified to discover his new home is actually someone else's Airbnb

    Ben Echianu, from Manchester, branded the woman whom he believes posed as a landlord as 'heartless'

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Christian Horner releases statement after being sacked by Red Bull after 20 years

    Horner shared a lengthy statement on social media

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    Donald Trump shuts down reporter who asked Jeffrey Epstein question following release of CCTV footage

    It seems the US President deems the topic to be no longer up for discussion

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    Cardiologist who had heart attack warns people to not 'make same mistake' over little-known warning sign

    The irony isn't lost on Dr William Wilson

    News
  • Why Stephen King book will never be printed again and was pulled from all shelves
  • 'World's tallest water slide' that decapitated kid explored in chilling documentary
  • Whistleblower paid to be 'father-of-the-bride' at fake Disney wedding where Brit married nine-year-old speaks out
  • Scientists make shock discovery when cutting open world's rarest whale that's never been spotted alive before