Missing person rescued from Clay County cave

CLAY COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) -- First responders from multiple counties worked together Saturday afternoon to rescue an individual who had reportedly been stuck inside a cave in Clay County for two days.

The Clay County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) said a man was reported missing by his family on Cherry Farm Lane shortly after noon on Saturday, Dec. 14. When members of Clay County EMA and the Clay County Sheriff's Office arrived, the person's vehicle was found parked on the side of Weber Road, near a small cave entrance.

Personnel said they entered the cave and "could hear help being echoed inside." Multiple agencies were called in to assist because the man in the cave was reportedly disoriented and believed to be hypothermic.

According to Clay County EMA and the Putnam County Rescue Squad, the man -- who was not injured -- told rescue technicians he had been in the cave for two days after getting turned around during a routine exploration because his flashlight died and he lost his spare on Thursday, Dec. 12.

Since the man's exact location in the cave was reportedly unknown, the Putnam County Rescue Squad was brought in. The squad said its Rope Rescue team completed the operation, adding that all first responders and the man exited the cave safely just over four hours after he was reported missing.

"A big thank you to the many responders on scene including Clay County Sheriffs Office, Clay County EMS, Celina Fire, Clay E911, Putnam County EMA, Jackson County EMA, TEMA, Putnam County Rescue Squad and Hamilton County Rescue," Clay County EMA posted on Facebook.

"We are blessed in Putnam County, and the Upper Cumberland, to have dedicated volunteers who drop what they’re doing to help others in need. I am proud of our rope team for all the time they put in to be ready for days like today," Putnam County Rescue Squad Assistant Chief David Anderson said.

No additional details have been released about Saturday afternoon's rescue operation.