Mo. first responders rescue pair lost in cave after concert

By Andrea Klick
The Kansas City Star

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two adults had to be rescued after they became lost in a cave system in Kansas City early Sunday after a concert the night before.

Fire crews responded just after 4 a.m. Sunday to a cave system off Coal Mine Road after a man and woman got lost while exploring, according to Michael Hopkins, a spokesperson for the Kansas City Fire Department.

The pair entered the caves around 11 p.m. to explore after the Kenny Chesney concert at Arrowhead Stadium, and later couldn’t find their way out, Hopkins said. Eventually, they found a spot with a strong enough signal to call 911.

Rescue crews from the fire department used ropes to descend between 2,000 and 2,500 feet into the caves, where they found the man and woman. Both were unharmed and declined medical treatment.

The fire department will charge a fee for the rescue.

“It is a very rare occasion and takes a set of extreme circumstances for the department or city to attempt to collect losses for emergency services,” Hopkins said.

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