Tour guide killed after underground elevator malfunctions at Colorado gold mine: sheriff

A tour guide died at a Colorado gold mine after an elevator experienced a mechanical problem hundreds of feet underground, trapping a dozen tourists for several hours, authorities said.

Tourists got stuck Thursday at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine attraction in Cripple Creek, officials said.

The deceased victim was identified Friday as Patrick Weier, 46, who was one of the mine’s tour guides, Box Office Sheriff Jason Mikesell said.

“It’s a county tragedy. It’s a Colorado tragedy,” Teller County Commissioner Dan Williams said during a press briefing Friday.

Mikesell said he didn’t know exactly what happened, but he believed Weier was “trying to keep everyone safe” during the incident.

“All I know is that he was a good man and he loved his job,” Mikesell said during a press briefing Friday.

Weier is survived by a 7-year-old child, Mikesell said.

The incident, which involved the elevator that takes visitors in and out of the mine, happened around noon MDT Thursday about 500 feet underground, Mikesell said.

Eleven people in the elevator were initially taken out of the mine, including Weier and two children, officials said. Four adults in the elevator were also injured, authorities said.

Twelve other people, along with another guide, who were already on the tour, were rescued after being stuck for about six hours at an altitude of 1,000 feet, officials said.

MORE: 2 dead, 35 others affected after chemical leak at PEMEX facility in Texas

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, Mikesell said.

“We know it was at 500 feet that the problem occurred. We know there was an incident with the doors, and at that point something went wrong,” said Mikesell. “We don’t know what caused this.”

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Mine Safety will investigate the incident.

The death was related to a mechanical problem and not a health issue, Mikesell said.

The local UCHealth hospital said it received seven patients following the incident, all of whom have since been treated and released.

To save the 12 people and the tour guide still stuck at 1,000 feet, engineers had to repair the elevator stuck at 500 feet, check the cables, then perform a test by sending it to the 1,000-foot level and back up , officials said. .

The mine owner came with inspectors to confirm that the elevator was safe to descend, while the owner’s son operated the lifting system to lower it, according to Mikesell.

“Without their help, we might not have been able to get people out of there,” Mikesell said, calling them “heroes.”

Once the test passed, they were able to bring up the trapped adults four at a time, Mikesell said. The last group was brought in around 7 p.m. MDT, officials said.

As the individuals were trapped, there was no concern about a lack of oxygen, Mikesell said, adding that they had water, chairs and blankets and were able to communicate with the lifeguards.

None of the people stuck at 1,000 feet were aware of what was happening and thought it was “a simple elevator problem,” Mikesell said. They were informed of the death once rescued, he said.

Rhonda Pulse, who was among the tourists stuck at the bottom of the mine for several hours, told ABC News that their guide “did a really good job” of distracting them during the wait.

“The whole time we were there we were a little uncomfortable, but there was no panic,” she said.

Pulse said that when tourists learned of Weier’s death, “there were a few tears.”

“We felt so bad for the family of the man who died and for the company because it is a family business and the man who died worked for them for quite a while,” he said. she declared. “And there were children involved, and so it’s heartbreaking.”

MORE: 160 Dogs Rescued From Florida Shelter Before Hurricane Milton Lands

The mine, which is approximately 1,000 feet deep, is a popular tourist destination. There hasn’t been an incident like this since 1986, Mikesell said.

“The owner of this mine and the family that has been behind this mine for many years has done a great job of ensuring safety,” Mikesell said. “They’ve sent thousands of people into this mine for tours and with very, very low safety concerns. But any time you’re dealing with heavy machinery…in a mine, there can be accidents. And this one was a tragic accident.

Multiple agencies, including search and rescue teams, responded to the incident with heavy equipment.

Mikesell said he received calls from senators, the governor of Colorado and the White House regarding the incident.

Amid rescue efforts, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said he was monitoring the situation and sending state resources to help.

“I am relieved that 12 of the people trapped in the Mollie Kathleen Mine were safely rescued,” Polis said in a statement Thursday evening. “Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the person lost in this incident.”

Tour guide killed after underground elevator malfunctions at Colorado gold mine: Sheriff originally appeared on abcnews.go.com