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” and it was founded in autumn 2012 in France.