Zračak Nade – Ray of Hope

National Cave Rescue Exercise

In the period of 5th-7th of July 31, 2019, the National Cave Rescue Exercise "Zračak 2019" was in the Cave System Ray of Hope 2 (entry level 910 m above sea level) - Cavern in the Ucka tunnel (entrance height of 500 m above sea level) in the Croatian Littoral.

The organizer of the activity was the Cave rescue Commission and the head of the HGSS Station Pula. 53 rescuers from 11 HGSS stations participated in the exercise.

Due to its easy access throughout the year, its exceptional beauty and great speleological potential, the cave has been the object of numerous exploration activities and visits to caving associations for many years. It forms the largest speleological object on Učka, which is characterized by great geomorphological diversity, and the peculiarity is that the two objects are connected by submerged channels that need to be dipped in order to arrive from one entrance to another.

Due to the extremely narrow parts in the upper part of the Zračak 2 cave, it is impossible to pull the injured caver to the entrance and therefore the aim of exercise was to transport patient from 125m to 400m deep or from the surface to the exit in the tunnel through the sump in the Cavern in the Učka tunnel. The venture has conditioned the resolution of several challenging logistical details. In order to get out in the Učka tunnel, the rescuers, with the patient in the stretcher, had to pass the 400 m vertical and 1500 m length difference, dived two siphons, carry about 600 kg of caving and diving material in conditions of complete darkness and cold, and close for the four times traffic in the Učka tunnel (tunnel length 5062m).

Because of previously mention, this exercise was classified as one of the most complex exercises ever performed in cave rescue, therefor was rated as high risk. The exercise, which was successfully completed over a period of 25 hours, resulted in increased visibility, training and cooperation of the special groups operating within the Cave Rescue Commission, namely the Cave Rescue Department, the Rock Fracturing Division and the technical groups in the pit or logistical support on the surface .

Because of previously mention, this exercise was classified as one of the most complex exercises ever performed in cave rescue, therefor was rated as high risk. The exercise, which was successfully completed over aperiod of 25 hours, resulted in increased visibility, training and cooperation of the special groups operating within the Cave Rescue Commission, namely the Cave Rescue Department, the Rock Fracturing Division and the technical groups in the pit or logistical support on the surface .

We thank Ucka Nature Park and Liburnian Water Companies d.o.o. and Bina Istri d.d. on exercise performance support.