Man Survives Harrowing Experience After Getting Trapped in Cave

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Exploring caves can be an exciting and cool activity during the summer months. But even the most experienced spelunkers sometimes find themselves in a pickle from time to time. Brooklyn resident Aidan Kaminer decided to venture to Merlin’s Cave in Columbia County, upstate New York, in May 2026. He suddenly slipped and found himself in a perilous position. He became trapped between the rocks for seven hours, just minutes from exiting the cave. Aiden survived, but this was a trip he will never forget.

Aidan Kaminar Admitted He Became Terrified in the Cave

Aidan Kaminer shared his harrowing story with the New York Post.

“The funniest part is we were basically done. We’d been in the cave exploring for five hours, and then we’re maybe ten minutes from the exit … and my foot slips,” he recalled.

The slip happened as he was bellycrawling. “I was trying to free myself, but I just ended up sliding down more and getting more stuck. By the time I realized that it was a serious stick, it was a little bit too late,” he recalled.

Aidan was with a group of cavers when he slipped. The cave requires at least three people and safety gear, including a helmet, multiple flashlights, and kneepads.

“Merlin’s cave is definitely more technical. The first few hundred feet, you’re crawling flat on your stomach, getting through twisting caverns, and then after that, you come to a mini waterfall that you have to boulder down carefully, ”Aidan admitted.

It took multiple rescue crews and a rock drill to finally free Aidan Kaminar. He said he tried his best to stay calm and cracked jokes while snacking on peanut butter cups.

“I wanted to let others feel more at ease because it’s a tense situation … I didn’t at any point think like, ‘Man, I’m going to die in this cave.’ I wanted to make sure that everyone else felt the same way as much as possible,” he added.

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