A 57-year old Helena man died on Monday after falling into a cave 30 miles west of Helena.

Although summer in Montana is a great time to explore the beauty of the outdoors, the recent death of a man who was exploring the Ophir Mining District acts as a reminder of the many perils of nature.

Alan James Smith was riding dirt bikes with his friend when he decided to take pictures of Ophir Cave, a popular spot among spelunkers. According to the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office, while he was taking pictures, Smith accidentally fell about 50 feet into the cave.

After his fall, Smith’s friend dialed 911 from his cellphone. By the time emergency responders repelled into the cave, Smith, a former member of the Montana National Guard, had been stuck for nearly four hours.

Leo Dutton, Lewis & Clark County Sheriff, says, “It’s an unfortunate set of circumstances, Mr. Smith was a person of great character and great value.”

After being flown to St. Peter’s hospital in Helena, Smith was pronounced dead as a result of traumatic head, torso, and limb injuries. Authorities say this serves as a cautionary tale to those thinking of planning an outdoor adventure.

Duane Harp, a Helena District Ranger, explains, “Certainly spelunking, or going into caves, requires special equipment and special precautions, and this particular cave is no different than any other cave. It requires good headlamps, ropes, experience, that sort of thing, so it’s not for novices.”

Sheriff Dutton adds, “Then some people have an accident, slip and fall, and stub their toe. He slip and fell, and unfortunately it cost him his life.”