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Cave Diver's Body Recovered After Tragic Drowning
1 Dec, 2025
Summary
- A 65-year-old Victorian diver drowned in Tank Cave.
- An underwater rock fall is suspected as the cause.
- Specialist divers, including a famed rescuer, recovered the body.
A tragic incident in South Australia's Tank Cave has concluded with the recovery of a 65-year-old diver's body. The man, from Victoria, drowned while exploring the complex cave system. He was diving with two companions when an underwater rock fall is believed to have occurred, leading to the fatal incident.
The recovery operation was arduous, taking over 24 hours and involving specialist divers from the Cave Divers Association of Australia, including renowned figure Dr. Richard Harris. The challenging environment of the cave, described as a labyrinth of tunnels, complicated the retrieval efforts, with concerns raised about diver fatigue.
South Australia Police were alerted on Sunday morning, and the body was eventually recovered on Monday afternoon. While the immediate cause appears to be drowning during a rock fall, police are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the death. The other divers involved are reported to be understandably traumatized.
