
Dead Man’s Handshake
Between the Ears descends into the pitch-black underworld of Britain's ancient, flooded limestone caves.
Between the Ears descends into the pitch-black underworld of Britain's ancient, flooded limestone caves. On a cold day in 1978, three experienced cave divers entered an underwater tunnel at Keld Head, in the Yorkshire Dales. Hours later, one of them had disappeared, seemingly without a trace. With first-hand testimony from veteran cave diver Geoff Yeadon, who led the expedition, and a specially commissioned soundtrack from analogue tape composer Howlround, Dead Man’s Handshake is a haunting voyage into the depths, where rescue is almost impossible.
As diver Michael Thomas warns: “If you play this game long enough in places where humans aren't adapted to live, you will meet trouble. And soon the Grim Reaper is sitting on your shoulder , having a little chat.â€
Featuring the voices of cave divers Geoff Yeadon, Martyn Farr, Geoff Crossley, Michael Thomas, and Graham Balcombe. With special thanks to Keith Edwards, Fred Perou and John Gardner of the British Caving Library Audio Archive.
Music by Howlround and Rowan Bishop.
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- Sun 15 Jun 2025 19:15ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 3
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Between the Ears
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