An ice cave on Breiðamerkurjökull glacier in Iceland collapsed on August 25, 2024, killing 30-year-old American Jeffrey Ayco during a summer tour. His pregnant wife was critically injured, prompting a massive rescue operation involving hundreds of volunteers. The incident highlights risks in the expanding glacier tourism industry.
The collapse occurred at the Blue Flame ice cave on the western side of Breiðamerkurjökull, Iceland's third-largest glacier, which spans 8.5 miles wide and 28 miles long. Ice Pic Journeys, co-owned by Americans Mike Reid and Ryan Newburn, led a group of 25 tourists with two guides, one of whom was new and uncertified. As the group entered the cave on a balmy late-summer day, an overhanging ice wall fell, striking four people. Jeffrey Ayco from Austin, Texas, was crushed and declared dead at the scene. His wife, who said, “I’m pregnant. I can’t breathe,” was airlifted to Reykjavik in critical condition after rescuers freed her from the ice using axes and hands. They performed CPR on Ayco but could not revive him. Initial uncertainty about the headcount led to a 24-hour hand-excavation by volunteers, followed by heavy equipment; no additional victims were found. Icelandic glaciologist Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson has warned that summer ice cave tours are dangerous due to risks like collapse, meltwater flooding, and unstable ice, stating, “They are playing with fire.” He advocates limiting tours to winter under expert assessment. The tourism boom, fueled by Eyjafjallajökull's 2010 eruption and social media, brought 2.3 million visitors to Iceland in 2024, pressuring operators to extend seasons year-round. Vatnajökull National Park introduced permitting and a GLACIS database for safety ratings like “go” or “no go.” Jeffrey's brother Ruben Ayco said, “Several steps could have been taken for this to be avoided,” citing greed over safety. South Iceland Police Chief Superintendent noted tours occur year-round by experienced guides, adding, “This is a living land, so anything can happen.”
