Rescuers working to recover the body of an experienced cave diver who died while exploring an underground system near Gort earlier this week are hopeful that a specialist dive team will be in a position to travel here today to help with the operation.
Artur Kozlowski (33 ), a Polish man who had been living in Dublin since 2006, died while diving in Pollonora cave in Kiltartan on Monday. Mr Kozlowski was a very experienced diver and instructor, and was regarded as the foremost cave diver in the country. He holds a number of diving records including the deepest underwater cave dive in Ireland and the UK — 103 metres — which he undertook at Pollatoomary, Co Mayo, in 2008. He was a regular visitor to south Galway and had been exploring the Pollonora cave since 2007 and, together with his friend and colleague Jim Warny, had also discovered some 6km of new underwater passages in the Gort area.
Mr Kozlowski set out with a colleague to explore the Pollonora cave on Monday afternoon. It is understood his companion, who was less experienced, accompanied Mr Kozlowski into part of the cave before returning to the surface. The alarm was raised when Mr Kozlowski did not surface at his agreed time of 7pm, and a rescue operation coordinated by the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation got under way on Monday evening. The rescuers — who were close friends of Mr Kozlowski — had hoped he had found an air pocket, but his body was located on Tuesday, nearly 24 hours after he went missing.
The cause of Mr Kozlowski’s death is not yet known. He had brought enough oxygen to last six hours, and his guide rope, used to easily find and return to the exit in the darkness, was still attached to his body when he was found.
Mr Kozlowski’s body was discovered in a narrow passage at a depth of 52m, nearly 1km inside the cave. Recovering the body poses serious technical difficulties, and those organising the operation are awaiting the arrival of a specialist rescue unit from the UK to assist in the recovery. Mr Kozlowski’s body is expected to be brought to UHG for a post mortem examination once it is recovered.
Mr Kozlowski’s friends plan to hold a tribute to him close to the entrance to Pollonora cave at 3pm on Saturday, and a Facebook page has been set up for the event.
