Maquoketa Caves State Park: Man Stuck In Iowa Cave

An Illinois man was trapped for more than 20 hours in a cave at an Iowa state park before being rescued Saturday.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources spokesman Kevin Baskins said Logan Eliasen, 20, of Port Byron, Ill., was dislodged from a narrow part of Wye Cave at Maquoketa Caves State Park about 3:30 p.m. Saturday. He'd been stuck there since 6:45 p.m. Friday.

Baskins said Eliasen was given oxygen and an IV to prevent dehydration as crews chiseled away rock to widen the path. He was taken from the scene to a Maquoketa hospital. A spokeswoman there said she couldn't release his condition.

Park Ranger Scot Dykstra said visitors discovered two people lodged in the cave about 8 p.m. Friday and alerted park staff. Dykstra said they became stuck while crawling through a narrow part of the cave.

Rescue crews from Maquoketa and Quad Cities were able to free the woman, identified as 20-year-old Emma Thomson of Port Byron, Ill., about 11:40 p.m. Friday. She was treated at the scene for minor injuries, Baskins said.

The 323-acre state park is northwest of Maquoketa, about halfway between Des Moines and Chicago. It features more than a dozen caves visitors can explore on their own, either by walking or crawling, based on their own ability and comfort level, according to the park website.

Baskins said he's not sure whether the man was experienced in cave exploration.

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Comments

[lk415]

03:05 PM on 05/21/2012

Hopefully these two irresponsible young people will be required to pay for the efforts of the rescue team, and fined for the destruction of the cave necessary for their rescue.

[ASRock78]

02:44 PM on 05/21/2012

I've been spelunking a couple of times, it's quite fun. But never have I ever gone to areas where I have to crawl through tiny inlets in the cave wall to get somewhere else! The thought of becoming stuck and not being able to move absolutely terrifies me!

I'm glad he got out! They would of had to give me an anti-anxiety because I'd be an absolute MESS!

[Robert Grif]

09:48 PM on 05/20/2012

Had the makings of another Tom Sawyer adventure.

[djuno1966]

09:13 PM on 05/20/2012

I am glad they(dumshits) were rescued. I hope the couple(realstupid) will be more cautious(doubtful) and take steps(feetfirst) to avoid any further danger(luckybastards).

[southingtonian]

01:12 AM on 05/21/2012

yeah, everyone should just stay in bed.

[Edwin Keever Jr]

06:28 PM on 05/20/2012

Being saved by a bunch of chislers! What a story!

[flyingfortresb17]

04:10 PM on 05/20/2012

And how much of the cost is going to be born by the two cavers? maybe if they made sure that the cavers had their own rescue tools and amputation packs they would take a real good look before entering such a narrow space.

[Big Horn Man]

03:43 PM on 05/20/2012

Was he obese? Just wondering.

[generalmel]

04:23 PM on 05/20/2012

stupid comment

[Big Horn Man]

05:06 PM on 05/20/2012

Have you ever been in a cave? Been there. A few tight spots in a cave.

[declutterbug51]

07:28 PM on 05/21/2012

6'2", 200 lbs.

[frctm5]

02:40 PM on 05/20/2012

Cave exploration is an odd hobby. You go to the great out doors to crawl into a hole. I'm not knocking it, but I just don't understand the appeal.

[ANNIE WYATT]

02:23 PM on 05/20/2012

Thank God he's ok. no way would i ever be in a cave. i guess to each their own !!

[salamanca1]

02:23 PM on 05/20/2012

I've been stuck in a cave before. I did manage to get myself out, but it is a unique sensation. Caves are not for those afflicted with claustrophobia.

[tiredofthesameoldstuff]

12:04 AM on 05/21/2012

Even those without claustrophobia wouldn't want to go into certain areas because it could be a death trap. An area you have to crawl through is such a death trap.

[salamanca1]

11:45 AM on 05/21/2012

Actually, to get to the main part of Buckner's Cave in Indiana, you had to crawl about 50 yards through a low entrance room. The ceiling was anywhere from two to three feet off the floor, and we actually found it easier to roll sideways down the hall than to crawl.

[silsez]

01:32 PM on 05/20/2012

This is just Mother Natures way of culling the herd. The universe is now in turmoil because they pulled two Darwinites back from the brink. Somebody, quick, throw a couple of virgins into the nearest volcano!

[ttaylorssm]

02:40 PM on 05/20/2012

LMAO

[rexeccoach]

03:40 PM on 05/20/2012

Can't find any.

[poriland4]

04:03 PM on 05/20/2012

maybe nuns with shotguns....

[gcymru5491]

01:28 PM on 05/20/2012

Why didn't they call upon James Franco?

[bkblue517]

01:08 PM on 05/20/2012

Someone from Illinois in the news again! Are all the idiots moving to Illinois and Florida???

[graywoof]

01:49 PM on 05/20/2012

No, Illinois has always been full of idiots!

[ivanivonovich]

02:15 PM on 05/20/2012

Yup, their just overflowing from there to Florida, via Tennessee.

[LkeToRead]

12:31 AM on 05/21/2012

We just traveled through Illinois and at the rest stop there is a "Welcome to our State" pamphlet with an introduction by Governor (ex) Blagojevich complete with his photograph...how strange was that!! It is not totally full of idiots though since I still have friends and family there (no comment please).

[ono24]

11:53 AM on 05/20/2012

Fat_ss stay out of places your belly can't fit through>>>

[gv007]

03:58 PM on 05/20/2012

ROFL

[nightrod]

11:29 AM on 05/20/2012

The exact same thing happened to Winnie the Pooh when he got stuck in Rabbits house. They had to stop feeding him honey for days to un stick him. If Winnie had an iv, he would still be there.