Emergency crews rescue 5 men trapped in Virginia cave

Crews in southwest Virginia rescued five men trapped in a cave on Sunday after they began suffering from mild hypothermia and exhaustion while exploring.

Teams extracted all the men alive by Sunday evening after beginning operations in the morning, said Jeff Stern, state coordinator of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. 

Authorities airlifted one man to the hospital for treatment. Three men were able to climb out on their own, said Billy Chrimes, search and rescue coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. The condition of the fifth man was not immediately available. 

"I’m happy to report that all individuals have been safety rescued from the cave in Cleveland, Virginia," tweeted Gov. Ralph Northam. "Sending my deepest gratitude to the first responders, @VDEM, and search and rescue personnel who helped get them to safety."

Six men, ranging in age from 34 to 59, entered Cyclops Cave near Cleveland around 7 p.m. Friday and planned to camp overnight Sunday, Chrimes said. Heavy rains made it more difficult for the men to climb out, as damp conditions worsened their hypothermia and muddied the cave. 

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The group did not prepare for the cave's conditions, he said, and they became exhausted without enough food and water.

A 22-year-old man managed to get out at about 2 a.m. Sunday and reported the group's situation to authorities. He did not need treatment at a hospital, Chrimes said.

Chrimes said he did not know if the men had the skills, equipment or permission to safely explore the cave, located on private property.

The trapped men were not lost, Chrimes said, and did not travel far into the seven-mile-long cave before needing help. A rescue crew went into the cave to assess the men's conditions Sunday morning, Chrimes said, bringing blankets, water and medical supplies. It took about 1 1/2 hours for the crew to reach them. 

After the crew returned and relayed information, he said state and local rescue teams planned how to get them out safely. A dozen emergency workers went into the cave Sunday morning and about a dozen more were on standby, according to Chrimes.

"Certainly we're hoping for the best and that we can get them warmed up, get them moving, get them some energy back and get them out on their own power, but we're still waiting to see what that situation will entail," Chrimes said at a morning press conference. 

If crews need to carry each of the men out, Chrimes said at the time that the operation may take longer than 8 to 12 hours. Crews used rope climbing equipment to maneuver and repel through the tight spaces.

Contributing: The Associated Press