Rescuers use new tech to save caver trapped vertically in Alberta’s ‘Psych Squeeze’

A caver was rescued after being trapped vertically in a tight spot known as the “Psych Squeeze” at Rat’s Nest Cave in Canmore, Alberta, on Saturday morning. The Alberta/BC Cave Rescue team utilized volunteer-built underground radio technology for the first time during the operation, marking a first in cave rescue history. The trapped man was removed inch by inch, with cave rescuers working for hours to free him.

The rescue involved 13 cave rescuers, 10 firefighters, and two Kananaskis Mountain rescue members. The caver was freed around 10 p.m. and emerged from the cave around midnight, suffering minor injuries from the hours spent trapped. The ultra-low frequency radio wave used in the rescue can penetrate rock and travel up to half a kilometer, allowing for near-instantaneous communication that drastically reduces the time required to coordinate rescue efforts.