The tourists visiting the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine of Cripple Creek, Colorado, recently faced a tragic accident on Thursday. While most were safely rescued after being trapped in the mine, one of the tourists passed away. The incident happened after the elevator in the former gold mine malfunctioned.
According to a report by CNN US, eleven people were rescued from the mine earlier that day. However, a dozen people were still trapped in mine in the cold weather 1,000 feet below the surface. After a six-hour-long rescue operation, all 12 people were safely brought up.
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Four rescued tourists were given medical assistance for minor injuries, per Teller County Sherrif Jason Mikesell.
Colorado Springs Fire Department took to their social media to confirm the rescue operation was successful. They wrote,
"We are thrilled to hear all 12 people who were still inside the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine have been safely rescued. 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."
How did tourists get trapped in Mollie Kathleen Gold Mines?
During a news conference, Mikesell revealed how the accident occurred. The sheriff confirmed that the mine's elevator experienced a mechanical issue and got stuck halfway through. One among the people on the elevator allegedly passed away. However, Mikesell revealed it has not been confirmed how the tourist died. The deceased's body was recovered when the first 11 tourists were rescued from the mine.
Per the sheriff, the issue with the elevator system caused a "severe danger" for the tourists. Moreover, 12 people were stuck at the bottom of the mine at around 50 degrees F. However, they reportedly had water, chairs, blankets, and a radio.
Via their website, the officials from the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine expressed their condolences to the family of the tourist who did not make it till the end of the rescue operation. They wrote,
"Recently, the Mollie Kathleen experienced a tragic event. We would like to send our prayers and condolences to everyone involved. We would also like to thank all of the first responders and emergency personnel who helped us through such a difficult time."
The officials from the mine also confirmed that it will remain closed till further notice. Moreover, the entire incident is currently under investigation. The officials are investigating what went wrong with the elevator and how one of the tourists died.
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