important. I did not want to see this situation turn into a media circus sensation. Everyone was in an agreement
After a brief discussion considering all options it was decided to tie a rope to Bill’s legs and pull him through the restriction. Luckily, I cannot remember who, but someone had a good rope in their vehicle. In addition, I asked for an empty weight belt. Why? I wanted to keep Bill’s legs together and streamline so it would lessen the chance of getting hung up as the body was being pulled through the restriction. Both the belt and rope were brought down to the water’s edge. One end of the rope was given to Mike and we both descended from the surface. We swam to the beginning of the restriction with Mike going first pulling the rope and I followed.
We reached Bill and turned his body around where his feet and would go first. We made sure that Bill’s body was facing down to minimize any damage that could occur to his face. I placed the weight belt around his ankles snugging it as tight as I could. Mike tied the rope around the ankles in a manner that ensured it would not come off. We moved Bill into position as close into the restriction area as possible allowing us to have the room to exit.
Because of the state of rigor mortis, we could not budge Bill’s arms into a more streamline position. I knew that the arms would get hung up once we started to pull him through the restriction. There was nothing we could do to correct that and hoped it would not cause any issues. I withdrew first through the restriction. Mike followed pulling Bill into the restriction as far possible and then exiting. We were both outside of the cave entrance and we slowly swam to the surface.
We informed everyone that Bill was in place. Mike pulled up all the slack on the rope until it became taut. John was now in the water with Buddy, Mike and I. We positioned ourselves underwater and at the surface and a few people placed on the sinkhole’s bank, the signal was given to start pulling. Everyone pulled and heaved. People at the surface were shouting words of encouragement.
McFaden’s body was not moving and several more attempts were made by Mike Sasnett to slowly wedge him through the restriction. This removal process was made more difficult by the tight size of the restriction. The fact that Mike had to back out while trying to McFaden’s body, the limited visibility, and the rigor mortis made it extremely difficult. After several