The first idea for creating an organisation of cave rescue groups was in 2007 at a meeting of alpine karst countries held in Berchtesgaden, Germany. Then in 2008 there was a first meeting of “Alpine cave rescues” in Munich, Germany. Followed by a meeting in 2009 in Treviso/Italy and 2010 in Saalfelden, Austria, there was made the decision to invite also cave rescues from non alpine areas. In spring 2012 the decision was made to create a “European Cave Rescue Association”.
Twelfth of May 2012 is the date of the founding general assembly of ECRA, which was held in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Toskany, Italy.
Seven initial members founded ECRA: Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico (The National Alpine Cliff and Cave Rescue Corps – CNSAS), Jamarska reševalna služba (Cave Rescue Service of Slovenia – JRS), Croatian Mountain Rescue Service Cave-Rescue Commission (Hrvatska gorska služba spašavanja – HGSS), Osterreichischer Höhlenrettungsdienst Landesverband Salzburg (now part of Austrian Cave Rescue Association – Österreichische Höhlenrettung ÖHR), British Cave Rescue Council (BCRC), Höehlenrettung Suedbayern (Bergwacht Bayern) and Gorska Služba Spasavanja Srbije – GSS RS.
Photos from the founding general assembly of ECRA in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Toskany, Italy
