RE Log - Spring 2020

10 Ransom Everglades LOG SPRING 2020 “ Broad led the way, swimming through a dark and difficult passage until he finally reached a clearing, a cavernous opening into a pool of water and beach. Excited, he made his way back to his friend, and the pair celebrated their success. They were, Broad recalled, euphoric. They had officially gone farther than any previous explorers. Rolland decided to continue, eager to extend Broad’s newly discovered path. He swam off with his son’s teddy bear fastened to his diving gear. Broad stayed behind, waiting. An hour passed, then two. At the sixth hour, with no sign of Rolland, Broad made his way back up through the cave to summon help from the rest of the team. The next day, Broad was reunited with his friend. He found him drowned on the far side of the opening he had been so excited to discover. “Up to that point, it was the most fun I had ever had in my life,” he said. “I went from the highest of highs, to the lowest of lows.” A few days after helping pull Rolland’s body out of the cave, Broad resolutely returned with others from the team to continue the exploration. He didn’t leave Huautla until flash floods trapped the team underground for three days and tore up their equipment. Broad never forgot the experience, and never really got over the death of his friend. The story, though, has a sweet ending. A few years ago, Broad met Rolland’s son, the once- little boy who had given his dad the teddy bear he carried when he died. Connor Roe had followed in his father’s footsteps and become an accomplished cave diver. When 12 boys and their soccer coach got trapped in a cave in Thailand in the summer of 2018, Roe was summoned from the United Kingdom. Joining an international rescue that captured the world’s imagination, Roe helped bring out all 13 alive. The heavy downside of this career is losing a lot of very close friends.” – Kenny Broad ’84 Connor Roe and Broad