One person was killed and 12 others were rescued after being trapped for around six hours at the bottom of a former gold mine in Colorado, United States (US) due to an elevator malfunction at the tourist attraction on Thursday, October 10.
“The elevator was descending into the Mollie Kathleen gold mine near the town of Cripple Creek when it had a mechanical problem around 500 feet (152 meters) beneath the surface, creating a severe danger for the participants,” Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell said.
The cause of the visitor’s death was not disclosed right away.
The 12 adults trapped about 1,000 feet (305 meters) underground had access to water and were able to communicate with authorities via radios.
During a nighttime briefing, Mikesell stated that authorities are still unsure of the cause of the malfunction, and an investigation is in progress.
Engineers worked to ensure the elevator was safe to operate before rescuing the stranded visitors.
They were also ready to use ropes for the evacuation if the elevator couldn’t be repaired.
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