In Utah County the nights can often get quite slow. Five members of a local rock band decided after a night of drinking, they needed a little excitement.

At 2:30 am, the five of them arrived at a cave, that apparently one of them had previously explored, in the side of the Timpanogos Mountains. A way into the cave, there was a water hole that one could swim into, and emerge 15 feet into a secluded cave that had about 2 feet of air clearance, and enough room for about 8 people. She had nicknamed the cave "The Cave Of Death" due to the previous experience, where the water had been so cold, she had almost passed out trying to get out.

One of the five decided that swimming underwater to explore an inner cave was too dangerous, and was going to wait at the entrance. It was a good thing, as he was the only survivor of the incident.

The not so experienced cave explorers, dressed in shorts, sandals t-shirts and tennis shoes, never made it out. They had apparently gotten to the inner cave, and started the swim back. There is speculation on whether or not the water got fogged with sediment, or whether there was enough oxygen in the inner cave to refresh the swimmers for their return trip. They did however, die of drowning, according to the autopsies.

The fifth member of the group started to worry, and after 45 minutes, when his friends still did not emerge from the cave, started calling friends on his cell phone asking them for help, and eventually called the police over 2 hours after the expedition started.

Some final notes, I knew the bassist who drowned personally. She played in a band (before this one) that opened for a band I played in. This was all over the news in the valley, and marked as a huge tragedy. The news did a really good job of covering up the fact that the kids (They were all 18-27) were drinking previous to entering the cave. What they did was none to smart, and a lack of offspring is the price they pay for that laps in judgment.

Submitted on 06/21/2006

Submitted by: Thom
Reference: 8-18-2005 - KSL.com

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Neutral: Personal Account
Though certainly not the most amusing account we've received, it certainly is a tale of stupidity. Alcohol nonwithstanding, swimming underwater into a cave in the dead of night is plain stupid. Can YOU spell total blackness?? Anyway, it is worth keeping as a PA, seeing as you knew one of them personally. Thanks, Thom!

Jorge said:
Maybe Toss: Other

Greg said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I go beyond PA to DA. This is a very detailed write-up of a reported incident and the source Thom mentions still carries the story: http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=95690 - it's kinda sad, but really, incredibly dumb. Definitely a DA - it's about as DA as you can get. Thanks Thom.

Fitzroy said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
This sounds DA-worthy to me as well. It brings me back to the series of deaths following from a decision to follow a chicken down a well. If news references can be turned up, I see this as the basis for a good one.

The Darwin Awards Gift Shop

The Darwin Awards Condom Keep yourself out of the gene pool! A condom in a matchbook, useful for emergency contraception, bachelor parties, frat parties, and important rites of passage. LOADED inside and out with funny quotes and stories. Everyone loves this item! Friends don't let friends reproduce! $13 for Pack of 4