By Elyse Armanini, Elsie Adamo, Sandra Morello, ABC Australia
Specialist cave divers have been called to Tank Cave to help retrieve the man's body. Photo: Supplied: Richard Harris
- A team of about six specialist divers has been called in to assist SAPOL's Water Operations Unit to recover the body of a diver who drowned in a cave in the state's south-east.
- The 65-year-old Victorian man was diving yesterday with two others in Tank Cave, near Tantanoola.
- Superintendent Trent Cox says due to the complexity of the cave system, the recovery will require several dives.
Thai cave rescue hero Richard Harris is expected to join a team of specialists to retrieve the body of a diver from a cave in the state's south-east.
The 65-year-old Victorian man drowned in Tank Cave, near Tantanoola, yesterday.
The cave is about 25 kilometres from Mount Gambier and is one of 32 diving locations in the region.
South Australian Police has confirmed an operation to recover the man's body has begun, involving officers from the Water Operations Unit.
Superintendent Trent Cox told ABC South East SA the scene was guarded overnight.
"It was impossible to undertake a recovery operation yesterday," he said.
"The nature of the cave system means it needs specialist dive resources that the CDAA provide.
"I understand a crew of around six specialist cave divers, including Dr Richard Harris, are making their way to the scene. They'll liaise with our water operations divers there and coordinate the retrieval effort."
Dr Harris, a retired anaesthetist, used his medical training to help rescue 12 young football players and their coach from a flooded cave system in northern Thailand in 2018.
Richard Harris will assist in the recovery operation. Photo: ABC News: Justin Hewitson
Cave system challenge
According to the Cave Divers Association of Australia (CDAA), Tank Cave is an "extensive, maze-like system with more than 7 kilometres of diveable passage", making it one of Australia's longest underwater caves.
Superintendent Cox said the recovery operation was "incredibly complex", with the possibility it "may not be successfully completed today".
"Given the labyrinth-like structures underground that typify this cave system, it'll require, from what I understand, multiple dives," he said.
"They'll deposit air supplies on the way to the location - I don't think it's going to be conducted in one fell swoop."
Richard Harris looking over a 2018 map of Tank Cave, an expansive cave system on the Limestone Coast, SA. Photo: ABC: Tony Hill
The Victorian man is not the first to die while diving the Tank Cave, with two deaths reported in 2011, including world-renowned cave diver Agnes Milowka, who ran out of air after becoming separated from her diving buddy.
Superintendent Cox said the latest incident was tragic, but also served as a reminder of the risks of cave diving.
"The industry is very well regulated since the early 1970s … while it's a risky endeavour, so many other things [are], like skydiving and any other number of pursuits that you can think of," he said.
"Tank Cave is rated as an advanced cave system, which means you've got to be certified to that level to dive it.
"My understanding is the three gentlemen who were diving yesterday all met that certification."
- ABC
The entrance to the cave is located on a private property. Photo: ABC South East: Eugene Boisvert
