A tragic incident at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine near Cripple Creek, Colorado, has left one person dead and twelve others trapped for six hours before being rescued Thursday night, The Associated Press reports.
The incident occurred around 500 feet below the surface when the elevator carrying a group of tourists experienced a mechanical failure. Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell described the situation as a “severe danger for the participants.”
While one person tragically lost their life, the remaining twelve adults, who were trapped around 1,000 feet underground, were fortunate to have access to water and a breathable atmosphere. They remained in good spirits and communicated with authorities via radios throughout the ordeal.
After engineers ensured the elevator’s safety, the stranded visitors were brought back to the surface. They received pizza and a full briefing about the incident upon their safe return. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the malfunction.
The incident occurred during the final week of the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine’s season before its winter closure. Earlier in the day, 11 other people riding the elevator were rescued, four of whom sustained minor injuries.
This marks the most serious incident at the mine since the 1980s, when a couple of people were trapped in the elevator. No deaths were reported in that incident.
Colorado state regulations require daily inspections of tourist attractions operating in former mines, including their transportation systems. While authorities are investigating the cause of the malfunction, records of the last inspection are not yet available.
The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, which opened in the 1800s and closed in 1961, has been operating tours since its closure. Visitors can descend 1,000 feet underground to view gold veins and experience an underground tram ride. The site was discovered by Mollie Kathleen Gortner in 1891, who spotted gold-laced quartz.
