UPDATE: Missing Men Found In Farthest Parts of Cave

7:41 AM UPDATE

At approximately 3:45 AM Wednesday, personnel with the Hamilton County Cave and Cliff team made contact with both missing men. They were found in the farthest known part of the cave and are now being assisted out. The evacuation is expected to take several hours.

At approximately 3:45 AM Wednesday, personnel with the Hamilton County Cave and Cliff team made contact with both missing men. They were found in the farthest known part of the cave and are now being assisted out. The evacuation is expected to take several hours.

— Chattanooga Fire Department (@ChattFireDept) March 2, 2022

11:30 PM UPDATE

The two crews have reached the bottom of the pit and found it dry.  The search continues.  A third team is being brought in along with an expert on the cave system to join the search.

________

11:10 UPDATE

The Chattanooga Fire Dept. has released the names of the two missing cavers.

They are 21 year old Gabriel Vaughn and 23 year old Robby Dobos

“Crews continue braving dark and dangerous conditions in an effort to find these two friends and coworkers. Gabriel and Robby were last seen around 8pm Monday night when the two left to go explore caves. When they did not return, their friends and family got worried.”

________

10:30 PM UPDATE:

Our reporter says the missing cavers are 21 and 23 years old.  Officials say they were in a cave they shouldn’t have been in.

________

10 PM UPDATE:

Rescuers report they have now searched two upper passages and a lower passage that led to a 60 foot pit.  Still no sign of cavers.  They are moving their command post to the top of the pit.

_______

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – A cave rescue is going on now under Lookout Mountain.

Fire officials say the two cavers haven’t been heard from since Monday night.

They are lost in an old abandoned train tunnel at the point of the mountain.

Officials say two person crews are searching a mile down into the tunnel.

And CSX is running crews along the rails.

Fire and cave rescue units are taking part in the search.