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A tragic accident at the Mollie Kathleen Mine in Colorado resulted in one death and left 23 people trapped underground for approximately six hours on Thursday (October 10). The incident was caused by an elevator malfunction in the tourist mine, according to Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell.
The sheriff's office confirmed that all 23 individuals, including two children, were successfully rescued. The cause of the one fatality remains unclear, with officials describing it as a "tragic accident" resulting from the elevator malfunction. A full investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.
The first group of 11 people rescued reported neck and back pain, while others were traumatized by the experience. The remaining 12 individuals, all adults from out of state, were rescued later without any injuries. The body of the deceased individual was recovered during the initial rescue, and officials are currently in the process of contacting their family.
The final rescue from the 1,000-foot level of the mine was completed around 7 p.m. local time.
"Those 12 came up very safely, four at a time," Mikesell said, adding that they were all in "good spirits."
The mine owner played a crucial role in ensuring the equipment was operational to bring everyone back to the surface. The last incident at the mine occurred in 1986 when people were trapped in the elevator, but no fatalities were reported.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis expressed relief at the successful rescue of the trapped individuals and offered condolences to the friends and family of the deceased. He also thanked the rescue team for their "swift response and tireless efforts."