Claustrophobia.
Some of us have it. One of my close relatives have it. Claustrophobia is not a joke at all. Just like being afraid of heights. Have you seen tourists walk on glass bridge of China? for some it is just a walk in the park. They can fully enjoy. But some struggle even to move their feet from one place to the other. Obviously, there is no risk of death (almost Nill) from a fall. Yet they are afraid, which is uncontrollable to them. So, claustrophobia similarly is not a lie. These people are afraid of closed spaces. Mostly they cannot undergo, medical imaging as they cannot be inside a closed room. They can't tolerate pushed into the doughnut of death! I am not claustrophobic at all. Yet I have felt once that I am close to being a one when I watched about caving.
Nutty-putty Cave- story of claustrophobia
If you haven't heard the story, Nutty putty cave is a now shut down cave located in Utah in United states. It is cave with its own challenges. The famous narrow tract which is called the Birth canal is located in deep parts of the cave. Once you are in such a narrow passage, there is no way of turning back, no way of moving back. Only way you can come out is moving forward until you reach the other end into a bigger 'room' where you can turn back. I saw a video of someone who, took the journey through the birth canal, and if you watch the full video, I am sure, if you are not a caving expert like me, even an ordinary person would feel claustrophobic, just by watching it. It is like this wired feeling that he is going to get stuck.
Nutty putty cave -Closure.
In 2009, November 24th, John Edward Jones, who is one of experienced caver went exploring the cave, and got stuck in a narrow passage, which was previously not mapped. after more than 24 hours being stuck, despite all the rescue attempts he died inside the cave. Upside down. This part of the cave was even narrower than the 'birth canal' and the problem was that there was no room at the end of the passage for him to turn back. Being slightly slanted position, I could only imagine the situation what he felt. And I can imagine and describe, which will even make you claustrophobic. The event led to the closure of the nutty putty cave, with his dead body inside as it was too risky to bring him back. In contrast to the successful story of the Tham Luang cave rescue in Thailand.
Imagine, with all the aspirations and life ahead of you, but being stuck without any hope for 24 hours, with a risk of being dead in next few hours. I like to imagine what will go in my mind in the last 24 hours of this life. Will I be happy I spent it trying to find out the true telos of life? or I would just think about what to eat when I go home, or the amount of money in my bank account. Will I be worried about the exam which is in December? There are unanswered questions. Only time would provide with answers. Let us think about life, before inevitable death, as there are so many dumb ways to die.
Thank you for reading, Nutty-putty Cave- story of claustrophobia. You would like to Read about the allegory of the cave- philosophy
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