A man, identified as Carl O’Keeffe, has died days after getting injured when he became trapped inside an indoor caving experience at a Lake District climbing centre in England, United Kingdom.
The 49-year-old from Lancaster, reportedly became trapped inside a narrow tunnel at Kong Adventure in Keswick on 22 April, according to BBC.
Kong Adventure, in a statement concerning the incident said, “Volunteers from Keswick Mountain Rescue Team were among those called to the centre just after 15:00 BST on April 22 after staff were unable to free O’Keeffe using normal rescue procedures.
“While the emergency services were deciding on evacuation plans, the climbing wall staff, assisted by visiting climbers, started dismantling sections of the wall to aid access to tunnels hidden behind the climbing wall panels.
“With time passing there was growing concern for the trapped man’s health as he was in a static position in a confined space.”
It said there had been a “significant effort” by rescuers, including the fire and rescue service with specialist cutting equipment, climbing wall staff and Cumbria Ore Mines Rescue Unit, who managed to get him out.
A helicopter from the Great North Air Ambulance Service was also called.
O’Keeffe died at Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, on Sunday after he was rescued. However, Cumbria Police said it was investigating O’Keeffe’s death on behalf of the coroner.
His sister, Olivia Short, said the family were “broken hearted”.
Posting a tribute to her brother on Facebook alongside a photo, she wrote, “He was my baby brother and over the last few years became my best friend.
“I loved him dearly and we were in contact daily doing word challenges and exchanging weird facts of nature.
“I also got to spend alternate weekends with him and his children.
“I’m broken hearted. As are the rest of our family.”
According to the information available on the website of Kong Adventure, the said cave is a 70m-long caving network in the centre of Keswick.
