A multi-agency recovery effort spanning two days has successfully retrieved the body of a Victorian man who died while exploring a complex underwater cave system on South Australia's Limestone Coast.
Complex Recovery Operation in Maze-Like Cave
Emergency services were called to Tank Cave near Tantanoola on Sunday morning, following reports a diver was missing. The 65-year-old man was part of a trio of highly experienced divers. The alarm was raised around 10:30am on Sunday after what is believed to have been an underwater rock fall.
The recovery operation, which began on Sunday, continued into Monday. It was led by the Australian Cave Divers Association due to their specialist understanding of the challenging conditions. South Australia Police water operations units also provided crucial assistance on site.
Heroic Australian Cave Diver Lends Expertise
Adding significant expertise to the difficult task was renowned cave diver and medical professional Dr Richard Harris OAM. Dr Harris played a pivotal international role in the 2018 Thai cave rescue, where he helped save 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave. During that mission, he used his medical skills to assess the boys and administer anaesthesia to facilitate their safe extraction.
For his heroic actions in Thailand, Dr Harris was jointly awarded Australian of the Year in 2019 with fellow rescuer Dr Craig Challen.
One of Australia's Most Challenging Dive Sites
Superintendent Trent Cox described the recovery as "complex," a difficulty underscored by the cave's nature. Tank Cave stretches for approximately 7 kilometres underground through a maze of passages. It is considered an "advanced" site and ranks among the nation's longest underwater cave systems.
The cave, located 25 kilometres from Mount Gambier, is known for its rich fossil deposits and notorious technical challenges. Its name originates from a water tank that once covered its entrance.
The diver's body was recovered late Monday afternoon at about 3:30pm. Police will now prepare a report for the coroner.
