Incident:Hypothermia and panic attack in Chorreadero 2026-03-07
| Incident:Hypothermia and panic attack in Chorreadero 2026-03-07 | |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-03-07 |
| Location | Chorreadero |
| Severity | No loss |
| Canyoneering-related | Yes
|
| SAR involvement | No
|
| Navigation problem | No
|
| Swift water problem | No
|
| Environmental problem | Yes
|
| Communication problem | No
|
| Planning problem | Yes
|
| Skills problem | No
|
| Body movement problem | No
|
| Rigging problem | No
|
| Rappel problem | No
|
| Insufficient gear | Yes
|
| Gear failure | No
|
Summary
One team member became cold, then hypothermic, complicated by a panic attack.
Symptoms of cold, reduced mobility, intense anxiety and mild confusion set in early, less than 1/4 of the way through the route 3-4 hours after starting the first rappel. Initially the patient was given another canyoneer's 5mm hooded wetsuit jacket, but patient still complained of severe cold and inability to move. Described as "body shutting down."
Team stopped to warm patient before/in the First Wallows. Team paused in a sandy pothole someone shielded from the constant wind. Patient had an oral temperature of 96.2F and stripped top and sat in an emergency bivy and space blanket, first warmed by the body heat of another canyoneer, but later using a Palmer furnace with candle lit with considerable difficulty due to the lack of lighter. After a 2.5 hour stop, the team suited the patient back up and progressed 3 hours to the Red Cross Room.
The team stopped again in the Red Cross Room where the warming process was repeated, this time using a large soda can candle and Palmer furnace starting from 97.2F. An attempt was made to ignite driftwood to create a fire, but available wood was damp and the attempt was abandoned after consuming only small kindling. Another 3 hour stop was made here, then the team progressed again to the Sala de los Halcones in 3 hours, from which the team ascended the ~40-ft pre-rigged drop to the dry side of the loop route and exited down the dry route.
Patient required considerable coaching to maintain forward progress from onset of initial symptoms, but mostly travelled under their own power. Patient was towed or pulled across most pools to minimize cold water exposure.
One of the other team members suffered a abraded right cornea, likely due to a rope slap while packing a rope.