Woman Falls 100 Feet To Her Death In VA Cave: Authorities

GILES COUNTY, VA — A woman died last week when authorities said she plummeted 100 feet while hiking inside a Virginia cave.

The Giles County Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch Center received a call shortly before 4:15 p.m. Friday about a woman who fell while hiking in a cave near Pearisburg, located about 65 miles west of Roanoke.

Authorities did not say what caused the woman to fall. According to Giles County Emergency Services, multiple agencies and rescue crews responded to the cave, where they found the woman dead.

"Giles County Sheriff’s Office Deputies, Pearisburg Fire Department, and Giles Rescue Squad were dispatched, responded, and quickly identified the need for additional specialized resources," authorities said. "Celco Emergency Response team along with Blacksburg Rescue Squad’s Technical Rescue Cave team were both requested, responded, and assisted with the rescue efforts."

Once authorities located the woman's body, she was extricated from the cave.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, authorities said.