11:50 AM
Posted: Saturday, July 19, 2008 12:00 am
MAQUOKETA, Iowa (AP) - Authorities have rescued a Wisconsin teenager who got stuck in a cavern at Maquoketa Caves State Park in eastern Iowa.
Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Moritz said the 16-year-old boy's ordeal lasted about five hours on Friday. He said rescue personnel had to use an air chisel to free the teen, who suffered minor injuries.
Mayor Tom Messeril said the boy was visiting the park with a camp group.
Moritz said the teen crawled in on the high side of the deep cavern, tried to turn a 90-degree corner and slipped and was wedged into a lower area.
"The kid did nothing wrong," Moritz said. "Because of the wet, muddy conditions inside, he did just slip."
The teen was flown to a hospital in Dubuque, but Moritz said he suffered only bumps and bruises.