Hidden River Cave says it happened after a freakish amount of rain fell in minutes and began flooding the famous rocks, while a group of 8 out of state teenage students, one teacher and a guide were inside the cave on an off trail tour.
"There were two options here, we could have the group sit and wait in out in the back higher sections of the cave, which could have been a day or more than a day, the scary thing about it is when you have a line of storms coming you don't know how long that could be, we made a decision to go in there after them quickly," says Foster.
Executive Director David Foster and guide Joe Forsythe says the waters were at 3 feet and rising quickly as they moved into the cave.
"I'm just thinking I have to get them out as quickly and safely as possible," says Forsythe.
The group was 1 1/2 mile deep inside and had no idea that a wicked storm was raging outside..
"He had a hand line with him and we used it to get us through the water, I tied it around my waist and swam through the river, everyone else was following along holding onto the hand-line, when we could stand up we did, other times we were swimming, and the whole time we were in the water it is rising and on top of it the current was very strong," says Forsythe.
The cave says the waters had risen to more than 6 feet once they began to exit the cave with the tour group.
"Rather than sitting and hoping it would turn out good, we decided to go in and get the group out safe and I'm glad we did," says Foster.
Everyone made it out of the cave safely, and officials say they are re-assessing their tour protocol.
Source: WBKO