UPDATE: Crews confirm that all five men have been rescued from Cyclops Cave.
One person is being med-flighted out to a local hospital.
Take a look as crews rescue the second man from the cave below. You can click the video to play it.
Russell County EMA Director Jess Powers tells News Channel 11 the men are between the ages of 34 to 59 years old and some are suffering from hypothermia and fatigue.
William Watson of the Russell County Sheriff’s Office says six men entered Cyclops Cave on Friday around 7 PM with the intention to camp overnight. He said one man was able to escape and call 911 around 2 AM Sunday morning.
Take a listen to the dispatch chatter.
Heavy rain has reportedly saturated the cave, making it hard for the men to exit on their own.
The American Red Cross from Bristol, Cleveland Life Saving Crew, Lebanon Fire Department and Cleveland Fire Department were on scene to help with the rescue.
Billy Chrimes, search and rescue coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, says the cave is mapped to be about 7 miles long.
He said the men were about 100 yards in but tight crevices made it challenging for rescuers to reach them.
News Channel 11 has confirmed this is private property. We spoke to owner Frankie Smith who said this is the first time someone has gotten stuck in the cave and that the men did not have permission to enter.
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