Two experienced speleologists, Paloma Bombin and Alfonso Urrutia, from Castilla y León, were reported missing in a cave in the Cantabrian municipality of Soba. They had entered the cave, Garmaciega-Sima del Sombrero, on Saturday, which is a complex cave system with over 100 kilometers of pathways. After almost 24 hours of searching, they were located and found to be unharmed by the emergency services of the Cantabrian Government. The speleologists managed to exit the cave on their own with the assistance of rescue teams, including 112 Cantabria, the Military Emergency Unit, and the Guardia Civil’s mountain rescue group (Greim).
The speleologists, who had become stranded in a secondary gallery without a clear path to the exit, decided to establish a bivouac and wait for rescue. Despite the darkness and exhaustion from their journey, they remained composed and well-prepared for the situation. The rescue operation involved over 60 professionals from both the Cantabrian and Spanish governments, who worked together to locate and safely retrieve the trapped individuals. The successful outcome was attributed to the intelligent decision-making and experience of the speleologists during their ordeal.
Paloma and Alfonso had not informed the emergency services of their expedition plans, a required practice for such challenging cave explorations. Garmaciega-Sima del Sombrero is marked with ropes and harnesses in its main route, maintained by the Esocan Speleosocorro Foundation. The cave presents significant challenges, including a constant low temperature and a 500-meter descent, making it essential for explorers to have the necessary skills and equipment to navigate its complexities safely.
The speleologists’ ability to remain calm and composed during their time in the cave, despite being in the dark for an extended period, allowed them to await rescue without panicking. The search efforts initially focused on surface exploration with drones and helicopters, as there were concerns that the speleologists might have exited the cave and gotten disoriented. However, it became evident that they were still inside the cave and in relatively good condition, which provided reassurance to the rescuers.
The final moments of the rescue operation involved the safe extraction of Paloma and Alfonso from the cave, bringing an end to their harrowing experience. Their prompt rescue was a result of the coordinated efforts of various emergency response teams, working together to ensure the well-being and safe return of the speleologists. The successful outcome highlighted the importance of preparedness, experience, and collaboration in managing challenging rescue missions in complex cave environments like Garmaciega-Sima del Sombrero.
