This year, the Aggtelek National Park celebrates a remarkable convergence of anniversaries: the Gömör–Torna Karst has been part of the World Heritage for 30 years, the National Park itself turns 40, and it was 200 years ago that Imre Vass passed what was then considered the most promising endpoint of the Baradla Cave – the so-called “Vaskapu” (Iron Gate).
Imre Vass, the “certified surveyor of Gömör County” in the 19th century, was a curious, perhaps somewhat restless man. He often visited the cave opening beneath Baradla Hill, near the village of Aggtelek. His explorations reached the section known as Vaskapu in 1821, where the limitations of contemporary techniques brought him to a halt. “Thus far and no further,” he declared, and left his signature on the spot: “Vass Imre 1821.” This inscription remains visible today, and experienced tour guides can point it out on cave tours.
Four years later, during the drought of 1825, the cave's water levels dropped significantly, allowing further passage. Vass seized the opportunity: at what is still remembered as the lowest water level in human memory, he was able to push through and reach further parts of the cave. From then, expeditions began – equipped with leather boots, hemp ropes, tallow torches, wool sweaters, and all this a full decade before the invention of matches (!). Within just a few years, the known length of the cave grew to nearly six kilometers, with explorers reaching the Színpad-terem (Stage Chamber) and even venturing into the Retek Branch. Their efforts resulted in precise maps, detailed cross-sections, and a beautifully written descriptive monograph, published in Pest in 1831 . Through his work, Imre Vass ushered in the era of scientific speleology in Hungary – a tradition that still places Hungarian cave research among the best in the world today.
The 2025 year of celebration also included this year’s Cave Days event, jointly organized by the Hungarian Karst and Cave Research Society and Aggtelek National Park. Numerous caves across Hungary and beyond the border were open for tours. Among these, perhaps the most exciting was the through-trip in the Béke Cave, which had not been accessible for over a decade. Our thanks go to the team who recently did tremendous work under quite unpleasant conditions: by pumping water out of the siphon, they helped reduce the high carbon dioxide concentration in sealed sections, making them safe to visit.
As cave rescuers, we prepared for the weekend in our own way. Given the large number of cavers moving through the region, we set up a special standby team at the campsite. We also offered hands-on training and practice in BLS resuscitation for campers, using our Ambu manikin. This knowledge is invaluable – it can save lives. Just last autumn, one of our cave rescue members encountered a collapsed person on a Budapest street. Using the techniques learned in the Hungarian Cave Rescue Services, he immediately began resuscitation – which, fortunately, was successful.
Due to the heatwave, we opted not to hold an srt rescue demonstration outdoors – we didn’t want anyone fainting under the scorching sun. Instead, in the cool of the cave, we organized a demonstration in a well-accessible chamber, showcasing our medical tools and procedures – with a special focus on newer equipment.
According to our scenario, one member of the entering tour group suffers an injury during a descent – unable to stand and in significant pain. By the end of the first act, the team leader and fellow group members had provided basic care with the limited equipment available to them.
At the beginning of the second act the BMSz medical team entered and took over. While the doctor and paramedic worked to stabilize the injured person for transport, others built a functional small shelter out of space blankets to prevent hypothermia.
As part of the care process, we demonstrated how we would treat a life-threatening femur fracture underground: the injured limb was immobilized using our new traction splint. Given the suspicion of a high-energy trauma, we also stabilized the cervical spine using a new vacuum neck splint.
After a full-body assessment, we established IV access and presented our upgraded infusion warmer – compatible with the batteries used in our power drills. We also introduced several tools used in active hypothermia prevention: heating pads, our active thermal blanket, and the patient monitoring device we received as a donation from the Hungarian Air Ambulance Service, which has proven durable even in cave conditions. After completing treatment, we packaged the patient onto a stretcher and exited the scene in the direction of Jósvafő.
The young lady playing the injured person was not yet done with their ordeal – taking slight advantage of her securely strapped position, we invited the audience to try carrying the stretcher through easy cave terrain. Later, others were invited to lie in the stretcher as well. Some enthusiastic visitors helped carrying the stretcher, while others – starting to feel chilly – tested how easily one could breathe warm air into our HotSpot shelter. Visitors were encouraged to ask questions or share feedback with the nearby rescuers.
With our presence and demonstration at Cave Day, we aimed not only to entertain but to show that every piece of donated equipment, every small or large financial contribution, is being used wisely – for your safety. With our 24/7 emergency number, continuously evolving techniques, skilled medical personnel, and 64 years of experience, our hundred-member team is committed to making caving and cave exploration even safer for our community.
Photos: Márton Kovács
