Hikers were warned of dangers in cave

It was the Guam Boonie Stompers' first hike of the new year. The group has been around for 51 years. A Saturday hike to Talofofo Caves was described on their Facebook page as a "medium rated hike that's perfect for families and beginners." Over 40 people attended Saturday's hike, and they were broken up into groups of 4.

Tiffany Abwe said she never expected anything bad to happen on Saturday's hike.

"I brought my kid with me because I thought it was going to be safe," she told KUAM News. "But then that area wasn't really explored so nobody really knew how unsafe it was. There wasn't any sign. I do recommend to put a big sign right there because it was dangerous."

The area Abwe is talking about - the main cave entrance to Talofofo Caves. Guam Boonie Stompers' FB page states hikers could explore the cave "at their own risk" saying one is able to "climb down and explore, but it's a long vertical drop on an old rope requiring upper body strength." 

It was in this part of the cave where Abwe saw something she'll probably never forget.

"I witnessed this man fall in one of the caves," she said.

The man - identified by hikers as military contractor Ari Ciolek - was next to Abwe in the cave.

"I was with him," she said. "He was holding on to the rope and he fell backwards."

Felix Margis was one of the hike leaders. He said hikers had been warned about the cave.

"I said 'guys that thing looks very very dangerous, please be extra-extra careful' and then after that - I just heard a boom," he said.

"When I got really close to the ledge, I told everybody to be careful because it was at least 100 feet down and then as I was saying that, he was already on the ledge, holding on to the rope and I think he might have taken a wrong step because I heard something on the bottom of his feet and that's when he fell. We heard 'thud' twice."

Abwe said they couldn't see the bottom, so they called out to the man.

"We called him out to see if he's OK, no sound coming from him," she said.

Marges made the 911 call shortly before 11 a.m. Rescue crews from the Guam Fire Department trekked into the caves with several Guam Police officers. GFD also used a rescue buggy outfitted with rappelling gear.

For hours, crews worked to lower two firefighters to the bottom of the cave - at one point they even needed more rope.

Rescue firefighters Darren Apiag and Clint Cruz were descended to the bottom of the cave - which was described by one fireman on the scene as being 120-140 feet deep.

CPR was not an option, as the man who fell was severely injured, hitting a ledge before falling all the way to the bottom of the cave.

Eventually, Apiag and Cruz were able to place the man's body into a body bag and he was hoisted back up by a crew of firemen at the cave's entrance.

The body was then secured on a stretcher, placed on the back of a buggy and driven through the steep jungle trail to a waiting ambulance just after 4 p.m.

Longtime local hiker Dave Lotz said safety comes first and when hiking in a group, always pay attention and listen.

"Be careful," he said. "Know where you're going and listen to the leaders, they know what they're doing."