On August 4, 2019, a 28-year-old Cambodian farmer named S. Umora embarked on a journey into the dense jungles surrounding his rural village. His goal was to climb Chakry Mountain, known for its intricate cave systems, to collect bat guano—valuable fertilizer and a key source of income for his family’s farm.
Bat guano is a highly sought-after natural fertilizer, and the caves in Cambodia’s mountains, including Chakry Mountain, are teeming with bats. Umora and his family frequently ventured into these caves to harvest the guano, navigating the risks posed by narrow passages and treacherous terrain.
On this particular day, Umora had a specific cave in mind. It was well-known among locals for its abundance of bat guano, but it was avoided due to its perilously tight entrance and confining interior. However, Umora, being slender and accustomed to tight spaces, felt confident he could safely navigate the cave and reap its rewards.
After an hour of hiking through the jungle and scaling the mountain, Umora arrived at the cave entrance—a small opening about three feet by three feet. Armed with a flashlight and a guano collection bag with a long strap for dragging, he crawled inside.
The cave system began with a narrow tunnel that occasionally opened into small caverns where bats roosted, leaving behind heaps of guano. Umora reached the first cavern, gathered about a pound of guano, and continued deeper into the cave.
As he approached the second cavern, he noticed the walls ahead seemed to ripple—a sign of the bats filling the space. This cavern promised a larger yield, but crossing into it presented a challenge: a narrow crack in the ground that ran perpendicular to the tunnel. Though only six inches wide, the crack appeared to plunge endlessly into the earth, evoking a primal fear of the unknown.
Steeling himself, Umora carefully wriggled over the crack, successfully reaching the other side. But as he moved forward, something tugged at him. Startled, he turned to find his guano bag caught in the crack. Relieved it wasn’t something more sinister, he jostled the bag free—only to fumble his flashlight, which tumbled into the crack.
The flashlight stopped a few feet down, its beam shining upward. Determined not to lose his only light source, Umora leaned over the crack and reached for the flashlight. Straining to extend his arm, he twisted his body, lowering himself deeper until he finally grasped the flashlight.
In doing so, however, he lost his balance. His slender frame slid into the crack, and he became wedged several feet down, unable to free himself. Trapped in complete darkness, with no food or water, Umora was in a desperate situation.
As hours turned to days, Umora’s hope dwindled. He screamed for help, but deep within the cave, his cries were muffled. He believed he would die there and even wished for a knife to end his suffering.
Meanwhile, back at the farm, his family initially assumed he had extended his foraging trip. But after two days without his return, concern grew. Umora’s brother, familiar with his favorite cave, set out to search for him.
Crawling into the cave, Umora’s brother found the guano bag near the second cavern and began calling out. He heard faint cries coming from the crack. Shining his flashlight downward, he saw Umora wedged deep within.
The brother rushed to get help. Rescuers arrived and, after hours of painstaking effort, managed to extract Umora from the crack on the fourth day of his ordeal. Miraculously, he survived and made a full recovery.