Tourist freed from Canmore cave after nine-hour rescue using rock-piercing radio

A man trapped deep underground in a Canmore-area cave was freed Friday after nine hours using a rock-piercing radio system that Alberta rescuers had never deployed in an actual emergency before.

On August 15, a tourist exploring Rat's Nest Cave on Grotto Mountain became stuck in a tight vertical passage called the Psych Squeeze. Initial attempts by rescuers on-site failed, prompting a call for backup from Alberta/B.C. Cave Rescue, Canmore Fire and Rescue, and paramedics.

Rescuers placed bolts in the rock for traction and worked to move the man's body out inch by inch. What made this rescue unique was the QDX-M radio system, developed since 2023 by Alberta/B.C. Cave Rescue volunteers using funding from Search and Rescue Alberta. Because cell phones and GPS require line-of-sight to the sky, they're useless underground. The QDX-M transmits text messages through solid rock using extremely low-frequency radio waves, allowing teams positioned at the squeeze to communicate with colleagues outside the cave without making the dangerous journey to the entrance and back.

"We were able to send resources and plan what was necessary without having to go to the cave entrance and down," said Christian Stenner, Alberta coordinator for Alberta/B.C. Cave Rescue. "It's very specialized — it transmits text messages through solid rock."

The man was freed after the nine-hour operation involving 26 cave rescuers and personnel from five agencies. He was able to walk with support and did not require hospitalization. Older analog cave radios used in past rescues had reached the end of their lives and could not be repaired, Stenner said. The QDX-M system is smaller, lighter, and more powerful than earlier systems, making it attractive to rescue teams in other countries.