At the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, a tourist attraction in Cripple Creek, Colorado, 23 people have been rescued and one person has died after becoming stranded hundreds of feet down, according to officials on Thursday.
A total of twelve out-of-state individuals were left stranded at the base of the 1,000-foot-deep mine for around six hours until being freed on Thursday night, following the earlier Thursday rescue of eleven individuals.
“I am relieved that 12 of the people trapped in the Mollie Kathleen Mine have been safely rescued. Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the individual lost in this incident,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis stated.
Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell said that four people who were rescued had minor injuries, and two of them were minors. He did not disclose any information regarding the fatality.
The mine’s elevator system malfunctioned at around noon on Thursday, creating “a severe danger for the participants,” according to Mikesell at a press conference. The accident’s cause is still being looked into.
According to Mikesell, the 12 individuals were stranded in approximately 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius), but they were equipped with seats, blankets, water, and a radio. However, the tour website states that amenities such as restrooms were not accessible below ground.
“We are thrilled to hear all 12 people who were still inside the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine have been safely rescued,” the Colorado Springs Fire Department stated via a post. “We’re grateful for the work of all first responders who ensured the safety of those still inside. Our condolences go out to the family who lost a loved one tonight, please keep them in your prayers.”
According to Mikesell, when the first group was hauled up in an elevator after becoming stranded halfway down at 500 feet, the deceased person’s body had been recovered.
Inspectors labored to make sure the elevator would function properly so they could carry the last group up on it four at a time in order to save them, according to Mikesell.
“We did have a briefing with them to explain to them what was happeing because they were in this tunnel and didn’t know that any of this was going on,” Mikesell stated.
The mine has been a family-run tourist destination for “well over 50 years,” and Mikesell stated that the last incident occurred in 1986. There were two trapped persons in the elevator in the incident, however no deaths were reported.
According to the tour website, the one-hour trip, which takes visitors through an 1890s gold mine and is completely underground, “is not claustrophobic but, the descent in the shaft is very close for 2 minutes (each way)”.
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According to the website, guests are shown how gold mining operated after descending the elevator at a pace of roughly 5 mph, taking a brief ride on an underground rail car, and then continuing on foot for a quarter mile of level, flat terrain.
Hard hats are given to visitors, who are instructed to leave behind wheelchairs and walkers for the duration of the trip. This weekend was supposed to be the attraction’s season finale before it reopened in May.
By: cnn.com
