Photos (c) Brigitte and Thierry Baritaud, Rose Yates, Thomas Baum, Jerome Meynié
D5 Meyraguet
The excitement of the success of the
previous day diminished rapidly when mid-day the news came about the death of
two Swiss German cave divers (Stéfan Feusi
31
years old, et Hermann Weber 35) in
the cave of "Meyraguet" (100km from the Souci) in a bell between sump one and
two. That bell was known to be toxic since
1975 … even though information spreads so quickly nowadays about caves via magazines or
the internet, unfortunately the victims didn't have the chance to access it, and
were not speaking
French fluently.
All of our condolences to their families
The cave of the "Grand Souci" is part of giant underground flooded system that spreads over more than 4 kilometers from the village of Cubjac. However, the "grand Souci" is just like a shaft, water doesn't go out from it !
The exit of the water is in fact 120m
away in a private property, adjacent to many springs
on the left side of the main river “l’Isle” South-West
of Saint-Vincent sur l’Isle.
Many thanks to the land owner who gave us the
authorisation for an attempt even if the outside appearance of the springs was not
really attractive.
(Click on any thumbnail to view full size)
At -8m in mud and trapped by branches I decided to bail-out, Thierry tried also but without success, that day mother nature didn't want us.
We will have to return in summer, when the water will be more clear, and once more, we'll have to clean all of the branches to access the entry of the cave at around –15m. It was investigated through 30m upstream a few years ago by the brave and tuff Thierry Baritaud.
"When we walk to the edge of all
the light we have and take the step into the darkness of the unknown, we must
believe that one of two things will happen;
there will be something solid for us to stand on or we
will be taught to fly."
Patrick Overton
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Copyright 2003 by Dr Jerome Meynie. All rights reserved. Revised: 12 Dec 2003 08:59:16 -0000.