ST. LOUIS — It’s been 25 years since the deadly cave rescue at Cliff Cave County Park. Six people, including four children, were killed.
On July 23, 1993, four counselors and 12 boys from St. Joseph's Home for Boys went out to Cliff Cave County Park. It was supposed to be a fun-filled day for the boys but severe thunderstorms rolled-in, triggering flash flooding. Seven of them became trapped in the caves.
Former St. Louis County Police Chief, Ron Battelle, said the weather conditions and continual flash flooding made the rescue very dangerous.
“We were faced with seven people in the cave and trying to locate them and get them out as soon as possible because of the flooding situation and the way the weather was going and knowing another storm could hit at any time and endanger everybody,” Battelle said.
The first day of the rescue, emergency crews recovered four bodies; three boys ages 9 and 10 and a 31-year-old counselor. The following day, two more bodies were recovered. A third boy was found alive. Battelle said it was a miracle.
“It was a young boy who put himself up on the shelf in the cave and was able to stay alive… We were stunned when we heard he was alive because we assumed they were all dead,” he said.
The lone survivor was identified as Gary Mahr, 13. He was trapped inside the cave for 18 hours. Battelle said it was extremely emotional.
