Athenæum

Previous entry | Next entry

03/25/2004: Fraud & Conspiracy Fraud & Conspiracy

"Scientists" trapped in cave turn down rescue offers
from CNN

(CNN) - Mexican President Vicente Fox said Wednesday he wants to know why members of the British military were in his country for a cave expedition, but never notified his government.

Six members of a British cave exploration team, including four members of the British military, have been trapped in a cave for a week after flash-flooding prevented their exit.

Above ground, another six British cave divers have been in touch with their trapped colleagues via telephone, Civil Protection and Red Cross sources told Reuters, adding that they had declined all offers of assistance.

"Civil protection rescuers are at the scene, but the six Englishmen have refused all help as I imagine they don't trust in the abilities of the Mexican rescuers," Puebla Red Cross spokesman Jose Trinidad Luna Reyes said.

"They said they are awaiting the arrival of British Navy specialists," Luna Reyes added.

All are in good health and their lives are not believed to be in jeopardy.

Fox said the British team entered Mexico as tourists and didn't notify the government that some of them were members of the British military and that they were going on an expedition.

"I have instructed the foreign relations minister to file a formal protest immediately and to request a clarification from the British government what were they doing here," Fox said.

The stranded divers are part of an expedition working for the Royal Geographical Society of Great Britain.

Steve Whitlock, who is leading the expedition of 12 people, has said they are attempting to map out the Mexican caves because they believe the cave structure might be among the longest in the world.

Sounds like the plot of some sort of spy flick. Here is the Reuters article from Tuesday.


Thursday the 25th of March, prof_booty noted:


there was a time when saying your momma got stuck in a mexican cave was an insult


Friday the 26th of March, awiggins noted:


Follow up:

The divers have been rescued, followed by detention by Mexican authorities.