What it feels like to get stuck in a cave

Hi! This video is based off of my own experiences from getting some body parts of mine wedged whilst in tight spaces. (The hips are the WORST) Some of you will comment about some particular and rare cases. I purposefully didn't mention the experience of John Jones (etc) in this video for a good reasons: I haven't experienced being stuck on a downward gradient,(your head lower than your body) nor have I experienced being so stuck that I couldn't get out within 3-5 minutes. Being stuck on a downward gradient is lethal, so I've never once attempted a squeeze where my head would be lower than my body. I've only ever done squeezes that have been attempted by thousands of people before me (most of them bigger than me), and have not attempted unexplored squeezes because that makes me feel uncomfortable.
People like Floyd Collins, John Jones and Neil Moss were real people, admirable cave explorers, and people who bravely attempted the unknown on a level I never could, so please keep comments respectful. Any attempts to make disrespectful comments will be deleted and promptly blocked.

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[tommaxwell]

This video was really eye opening! I had no idea about Cleithrophobia and it’s differences from Claustrophobia. It’s definitely helped explain a few things and teach me more about my fear! Thank you :)

[willgaj_]

"I'm Bob the Builder now" is my new favorite sign-off

[ICountFrom]

Dropped in off the credits tag on the Tom Scott Video. Thank you again for that. That's such a good line though. You may have others with you, but everybody is alone in a cave. Kind of like living with depression.

[Kargoneth]

A lot of times, your worst enemy is your own mind. If you are not freezing, not starving, not at risk of drowning, not at risk of suffocating, and you are with people, it shouldn't be too bad... unless you're stuck in the only way in and out of a cave and preventing everyone inside from escaping. Then that could be bad.

[JKTCGMV]

I've had to squeeze through some tight spots. In university (UCSC) we had a nearby cave called Hell Hole. The Corkscrew in the middle of the cave is tight enough that they have a metal cover at the entrance to the cave that's the same size. If you can't fit through the entrance, you cant fit through the Corkscrew. I'm 5'6", but if you're much bigger than that you could easily get stuck if you can't stay calm.

[ianvaughan]

I have extreme cleithrophobia and I start to overheat and have anxiety attacks just watching caving videos, however I do love watching them because they're the closest I'll ever get to a cave. Thank you for your videos!

[EliseFreshwaterBlizzard]

This video is based off of my own experiences from getting some body parts of mine wedged whilst in tight spaces. (The hips are the WORST) Some of you will comment about some particular and rare cases. I purposefully didn't mention the experience of John Jones (etc) in this video for a good reasons: I haven't experienced being stuck on a downward gradient, (your head lower than your body) nor have I experienced being so stuck that I couldn't get out within 3-5 minutes. Being stuck on a downward gradient is lethal, so I've never once attempted a squeeze where my head would be lower than my body. I've only ever done squeezes that have been attempted by thousands of people before me (most of them bigger than me), and have not attempted unexplored squeezes because that makes me feel uncomfortable. This is why on the main part, caving can be a safe sport- because you're attempting things thousands of others have already done!


People like Floyd Collins, John Jones and Neil Moss were real people, admirable cave explorers, and people who bravely attempted the unknown on a level I never could, so please keep comments respectful.



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[monkeypirate]

Another wonderful video, thank you. I could never do what you do so it is great to see your videos and what it is like in the caves and, here, the feelings.

[allanp]

Well presented. As you say, getting truly jammed is quite rare. Not fitting through a squeeze the first time is a little less rare, but it is amazing what you can fit through. Although, vertical squeezes are in a whole category of their own. You described the mental aspect to getting stuck well. It can be so counterintuitive to stop, slow your breathing and systematically work your way through (or back).

[stephenmacartney]

Great video, really informative. Hopefully an experience I'll not find myself in!

[GuyTheGeeky]

Saw this after watching Tom Scott's adventures with you, and I immediately subscribed! You have such an interesting and awesome perspective on caving, and life in general I'd say! Thanks for the wonderful content! :D

[mikedakin]

This video popped up on the algorithm and immediately set me on edge. Took me a while staring at it before I could click on it. I've never been stuck in a cave, but I've experienced being trapped for a few hours with multiple life changing injuries and effectively dying. I was involved in a traffic accident, where I collided with a double decker bus while on a motorbike. I found myself trapped between the road surface and the underside of the bus until finally being rescued. It took about 3 years of recovery before I could have a new normal life. That was many years ago but only this year I was diagnosed with PTSD as a result of the accident plus a more recent trauma which I am currently having therapy for. The mere thought of being in a cave sends my heartbeat racing and sweat begins to form on my face. Not sure why I even mentioned any of that. Best wishes Elise.

[UKAbandonedMineExplores]

Agreed. For me, I have a large rib cage so while others get through, I find it dificult to breath, that's why I stopped caving and kept to mine exploration. The part about reproducing, never had that erge ;) Don't forget, cave resue have not always been sucessfull at extracating people, even recently.

[LindsayDaly]

the fact that you're filming it in a cave hole squeeze I can't!! djashdasjlaj. Caving is scary as hell to me but also fascinating, and you are very cool and clearly talented/experienced with it!

[mildredvargas]

I just discover your chanel and I love it! I stared caving this year here in my city in Monterrey, Mexico and I love it!! This video and your way to describe it woow it is exactly what I feel! Thank you so much for sharing!❤❤❤❤❤

[steamfire]

I feel like the title and thumbnail should get to youtube front page ASAP. Also terrifying enough to just nope out before clicking lol. Good job. Like really, I am not gonna watch because this is already a nightmarish enough thought. I gave it a like because I know you'd do a good job of it though.

[Codebreakerblue]

I didn't know that cleithrophobia was a thing! It's always cool to find a new word that accurately describes your experience

[ravysel]

Informative but also very inspiring, I enjoyed it a lot! Thank you!

[dscrive]

I've never gone through a particularly tight squeeze in a cave, though there was one point that I had to crawl and I thought "hmm, hope a sudden rain storm doesn't appear" so I know I don't really have claustrophobia.
but, boy oh boy is cleithrophobia a sneaky unexpected thing. I recently-ish started working in EMS and had to go to a prison to get a patient last year, due to staffing shortages at the prison, my partner and I ended up waiting inside, behind numerous locked doors, for a couple of hours. After 20 minutes or so I started getting anxious, I had to be very mindful of breathing and practice what I think is called thought mindfulness.
So basically, I agree 100% with what you said, and I think it applies to other "trap" spaces.

[ontheballcity]

I like to breathe out and relax. I can then normally find a body part that can shuffle on a little. I lost 3 stone about 3 years ago, which helped a lot.