Cripple creek mine tragedy: Elevator failure claims life
A tragic accident occurred at the former gold mine in Cripple Creek, Colorado, which is now a tourist attraction. Due to an elevator failure, one person died, and 12 others were trapped underground.
11 October 2024 08:39
The incident took place at the Mollie Kathleen mine, located near the town of Cripple Creek. According to Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell, "serious technical problems" arose with the elevator at a depth of approximately 980 feet.
He added that "one person lost their life in the incident," without providing further details. Shortly afterwards, 11 people were brought to the surface. The remaining group of 12 tourists waited for assistance for several hours.
Rescue operation in Colorado mine. Tourists were unaware of the situation
Rescuers remained in constant contact with those trapped underground. They had access to water and blankets, and among them was someone with mining rescue experience. Six hours later, a rescue operation was conducted, and everyone was brought safely to the surface.
According to AP, several people sustained minor injuries, but the mental state of the tourists remained positive. Only after the entire operation was completed were they informed about what had occurred underground.
End of the season
The accident happened at the end of the tourist season at the gold mine. Mollie Kathleen was set to close for the winter in a week. A similar incident last occurred in the 1980s.
The mine opened in the 19th century and was commercially exploited until the 1960s. It now serves as a tourist attraction, allowing visitors to take an hour-long tour down to 3,280 feet underground, where they can see gold veins and ride an underground tram.
