Murfreesboro, TN – WGNS has learned that a male MTSU student fell approximately 80 feet into the snail shell cave last Friday afternoon (10/25/2024). A medical assessment of her injury has not yet been released, but the university has released an official statement…

“An MTSU student sustained injuries from a fall while participating in an earth science field trip to Snail Shell Cave in Rutherford County on Friday, October 27th. We at the Department of Geosciences are grateful to all the first responders who first stabilized the student and then We are also grateful to the medical staff at VUMC where the student is recovering. Our thoughts are with the student and his family during this time of recovery.

Shortly after the incident occurred last Friday afternoon around 3:00 p.m., WGNS reported that a group of MTSU students were taking an educational trip to Snail Shell Cave in the Rockvale Community when one of them fell approximately 80 feet into the cave.

Emergency responders were quickly on scene, where Rutherford County Fire and Rescue set up a steep rope rescue, where a team of paramedics descended the ropes to the rocky cave floor and began stabilizing the male student.

Once completed, the student was lifted from the hole in the ground and placed into a LifeFlight helicopter from where he was flown to Vanderbilt Trauma Center.

Larry Farley, chief of the Rutherford County Fire Department, told WGNS, “I am extremely proud of our employees and their commitment to achieving the best possible outcome.” They are constantly training and refining their skills, whether it be vehicle extrication, structural fires, or during rescue from a steep rope. They are committed to giving their best to the people of Rutherford County.”

Once again, WGNS has learned that the male MTSU student who fell 80 feet in Snail Shell Cave last Friday afternoon is alive and recovering at Vanderbilt Trauma Center in Nashville. As we learn more, WGNS will let you know.