Two were rescued from Donnehue Cave near Bedford Friday morning.
Conservation officers and other responders were notified at 10:45 am that 31-year-old Joshua Patton may have entered the cave earlier in the week had not been heard from since Tuesday night. Patton had told his family he was planning on entering the cave.
After a search of the “maze” portion of the cave and the lower stream passage they made verbal contact with Patton. To their surprise, a 38-year-old woman, Samantha East also of Bedford was located. Both were about 2000 feet inside the cave.
Patton said the two entered the cave at 6:15 Tuesday night with just a cell phone to light their path. After damaging the phone and losing the light they used cigarette lighters until they went out. They then waited in total darkness.
Both were treated for hypothermia, dehydration and exhaustion and then taken to IU Health in Bedford to be examined further.