Sunday, December 02, 2007 (Philippines)

Rescuers bring down the body of Dr. Adolph Espina II, a teacher with at least 10 years’ caving experience. Three of Espina’s companions were rescued from a cave in Gaas, Balamban. (Sun.star photo/Alex Badayos) A 39-YEAR-OLD doctor died while exploring a cave in Barangay Gaas in the western town of Balamban, Cebu. Dr. Adolph Espina II, an ophthalmologist, was with five other spelunkers when he fell into an estimated 60-meter-deep pit inside a vertical cave last Friday. It took rescuers 17 hours to get Espina’s body out of the cave. Mertz Certifico, the team’s designated spokesman, and Gelina Asis clarified an earlier report that four of the members of the team were trapped inside the cave. [full story]