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Missing spelunkers rescued in southern Indiana cave after 35 hours underground

Seven overdue cavers have been found in a southern Indiana cave after they missing for more than a day.
Cavers have not resurfaced after their expedition into Binkley's Cave in Harrison County, near Corydon in southern Indiana (photo courtesy Dept. of Natural Resources)

HARRISON COUNTY, Ind. (WTHR) - Seven overdue spelunkers have been found in a southern Indiana cave.

The group was surveying Binkley's Cave near Corydon. They were supposed to come out Sunday morning after their 15 hour trip, but they hadn't been seen by Sunday evening.

As of 1:30 a.m. Monday, all seven had been located and rescued from the cave. Originally, two had been escorted from the cave and were being treated for hypothermia and exposure. It took crews about three hours to get the other five being helped out of the cave by rescuers, and were still several hours from the cave entrance. Four rescue workers were in the cave with the remaining spelunkers. They brought heaters, life jackets, and other equipment.

Indiana Conservation Officer Joe Haywood said, "It was the absolute best update we could've hoped for. Everybody's there, everybody's ok. They'll be cold, they'll be wet, they'll be tired. But everybody should get out of the cave ok."

The cavers entered around noon on Saturday according to Haywood, and were set to resurface around 3 a.m. Sunday. The waters in the cave rose and blocked the exit. When they didn't show up early in the morning, family members became concerned.

Around 1 p.m. Sunday, rescuers entered the cave, and after an extensive search, found all cavers unharmed.

The seven are being treated for symptoms of hypothermia and exposure, but all are expected to be ok.

Haywood said the cave temperature maintained around 55 degrees.

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