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Cave escape: Rushing water, sucking mud and pitch black

Parker said two local police officers who tried to rescue the tourists were among those still inside.

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The Hart County Emergency Management told Fox affiliate WDRB-TV up to 21 people were originally stuck inside the Hidden River Cave located in Horse Cave, Ky., which is part of the American Cave Museum.

“About a mile back in the cave to get the guys out and I’m glad we did because quite frankly I saw water I’ve never seen water in 30 years in this cave it was coming up really fast”, Foster said.

Almost two dozen spelunkers safely made their way out of a Kentucky cave where they had been trapped on Thursday due to flooding, police said.

The only light the trapped people had was from headlamps they wore, McDaniel said.

There was no communication between the stranded cavers and the more than 150 emergency personnel at the scene. But quickly rising waters trapped the rest of the group. That area has a high ceiling and they stood there until the water rose so high that they chose to go ahead and try to make their way out. They were met by the four people who had escape.

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The students had planned a five-hour trip exploring the cave but got trapped by rising water from heavy rains that started after they entered the cave, McDaniel said.

Rescued people walk out of the entrance to Hidden River Cave after officials said over a dozen people who exploring the cave were trapped by rising water Thursday