In response to a request by ARSIP (Association des Récherches Spéléologiques Internationales à la Pierre Saint-Martin) we reproduce in full the unedited text of the following communication.

We would emphasise that any views expressed therein are not necessarily those of CUCC.

A British Speleoclub asked ARSIP if some Polish speleologists could join them at Pierre St. Martin during 1973 summer. ARSIP accepted in principle, providing that the Polish team conforms itself to ARSIP regulations, as described in forms No. 1, 2 & 3. To ease the passport formalities from the Polish side and prevent undue delays, ARSIP accepted to send a formal invitation to Poland before reception of the signed forms.

The numerous requests for participation to the Summer campaign, the large and increasing number of teams on the P.S.M. site (180 members in 1972, 270 in 1973), at the limit of possibilities for the limited number of local ARSIP guides, make it imperative for all guests to follow as exactly as possible the planning prepared by ARSIP to give the maximum opportunities to achieve their works without mutual interference.

It must be kept in mind that ARSIP is not a speleoclub but the coordinating agent, for all underground activities in the upper valley of Saison river, endorsed with full responsibility for personal safety and ecological sites protection, by local as well as national authorities.

A first task was assigned to the Polish team: the survey of the downstream part of Arphidia cave. That would permit ARSIP delegates to check technical qualification and reliability before allowing them to enter the main P.S.M. cave, and that only at a given date and under suitable supervision and guidance.

At their arrival (a team of 9) the Poles were accommodated at ARSIP private camp in St.-Engrace, where their behaviour was so objectionable that the ARSIP delegate was forced to threaten them with expulsion. They refused to sign the ARSIP forms and, by that, could not be anymore considered as ARSIP guests. After much pleadings and discussion, they were finally allowed to start work in Arphidia cave at the condition to fill ARSIP forms before entering the cave, and were allowed 24 hours to comply to that formality.

They went to Arphidia without filling in the forms, for a short visit without any results, and went to Tête-Sauvage entrance the following day without the knowledge of ARSIP. They met there a Bulgarian team going out after fulfilling their tasks, and offered to help them to remove their equipment. The Bulgarians accepted, ignoring that the Poles were no more ARSIP guests. The 9 of them went down the shaft (420m), 4 of them coming up again helping the Bulgarians to remove their ladders, cutting the remaining 5 from any possibility of retreat except the EDF tunnel. The team of 4 went back to the entrance of that tunnel to wait the coming out of the 5 others. They expected them to come after 40 hours, which was a reasonable time, considering the water level, for a well trained team, with a guide or a precise knowledge of the cave and a suitable equipment, 3 conditions that were not fulfilled. Without news from their colleagues, the British team associated with them became anxious, warned an ARSIP team at work on the plateau: as the Polish team did not appear on the ARSIP schedule, and knowing nothing about their programs, that team was not allowed to start an ARSIP rescue, and had to report to the Gendarmerie (Spéléo-Secours) which, in turn, notified the press.

In those conditions, ignoring the Polish team program underground, ARSIP was unable to organise a light rescue party and was obliged to comply to the more elaborate rescue plan of officials.

Spéléo-Secours 64 (SS64) is an official organisation, formed by highly qualified speleologists living in the Departement of Pyrenées-Atlantiques, under the direction of technical consellor presented by FFS and nominated by the CDS (Commission Departemental de Spéléologie). It covers Atlantic-Pyrénees, Landes and North of Spanish Navarre. Since its creation in 1969, it has organised successfully 7 major rescues. Once the alarm signal is officially given, the rescue party must work strictly according to official rules, use standard french materials, equipment and techniques. To allow foreign speleologists among the rescue party, using different techniques and languages would have resulted in transforming the shaft in a hopeless bottleneck.

The rescue must start from the Tête-Sauvage entrance and not from the EDF tunnel, for the only information available was that the lost team must be in the upper quarter of the river, for another team having come down the lower ¾ after completing their task did not meet them. Another reason to forbid any foreign participation to the rescue was that sensationalistic press agents offered 2,000 L for a photo of the first contact between rescuers and rescueds. Many noncompetent peoples, including the 4 Poles, were already trying to join the rescue party for that purpose. S.S.64 accepted only its accredited members, and no such photos were taken or sold. The general operation was undertaken by 4 successive teams:

1) Equipment of shaft and short investigation around the bottom.
2) Systematic investigation along underground river; first contact with Poles.
3) Medical examination of the 5 rescueds by a physician, to give permission to evacuate.
4) Forwarding the rescueds to the surface. Each operation takes from 10 to 15 hours.

The lost team was found in good condition but for a superficial wound on elbow, having wandered to and fro in the upper quarter of the river, without light and subsisting on an ARSIP emergency food deposit. None of that unpleasant experience should have happen if all ARSIP regulations have not been deliberately ignored by that team.

A net result of that was a substantial loss of materials (damaged, lost or stolen) all ARSIP teams lost several days of their programs, several research having to be postponed until next year. The Prefectoral Authorities closed the Tête-Sauvage entrance until practical dispositions should be taken to prevent such behaviours.