One dead, 23 rescued from Colorado gold mine tour after equipment malfunction

Twelve radical trapped heavy beneath the aboveground of a erstwhile Colorado golden excavation turned fashionable tourer destination were rescued Thursday nighttime aft an elevator malfunctioned, authorities said.

The rescue came aft 11 others were rescued hours earlier and 1 idiosyncratic died astatine the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine successful Cripple Creek. 

While the golden excavation has been closed to mining for decades, it gives tours astir 1,000 feet underground, the Teller County Sheriff's Office said.

Entrance to the Mollie Kathleen Mine successful Cripple Creek, Colo., a historical mining municipality conscionable southbound of Colorado Springs. Tourists flock present to larn of the area's Gold Rush bequest and to acquisition a portion of the infamous Wild West.  (Nina Raingold/Getty Images)

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Around noon, a mechanical contented occurred with the elevator that takes tourists into the mine, creating a information for riders, authorities said. 

Eleven people, including 2 children, were initially rescued utilizing a trolley car. Four of them had insignificant injuries, portion an unidentified person died astir 500 feet down wrong the mine.

The 12 others were rescued hours later, aft authorities engineers determined it was harmless to statesman bringing the trapped tourists backmost up to the surface. 

Several radical were rescued aft they became trapped successful a erstwhile Colorado golden excavation precocious Thursday. (KMGH)

"They are harmless astatine the 1,000-foot level," Sheriff Jason Mikesell said of the 12 who were trapped. "They honestly don't cognize that we've had an contented different than there's a occupation with the elevator."

Mines operated arsenic tourer attractions successful Colorado indispensable designate idiosyncratic to inspect the mines and the proscription systems daily, according to the authorities Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety. 

Mikesell said helium didn’t cognize the day of the past inspection. Records of the inspections weren’t instantly disposable online.

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Tarps screen an opening to a excavation wherever respective radical were rescued aft becoming trapped successful the erstwhile golden mine. (KMGH)

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said helium was alert of the situation. 

"I americium relieved that 12 of the radical trapped successful the Mollie Kathleen Mine person been safely rescued. Our deepest condolences to the household and friends of the idiosyncratic mislaid successful this incident," Polis said successful a statement. "I convey Teller County and Sheriff Mikesell and his team, arsenic good arsenic the different instrumentality enforcement and archetypal responders from section and authorities authorities for their swift effect and tireless efforts, including members of the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management."

Several radical were rescued aft getting trapped successful a erstwhile golden excavation connected Thursday. (KMGH)

"Thanks to this collaborative effort, each of these individuals volition instrumentality location safely," helium added. 

The excavation opened successful the 1800s and closed successful 1961, but inactive operates tours. Its website describes a one-hour circuit successful which visitors descend 1,000 feet into the earth. It says they tin spot veins of golden successful the stone and thrust an underground tram.

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A pistillate named Mollie Kathleen Gortner discovered the tract of the excavation successful 1891, erstwhile she saw quartz laced with gold, according to the company’s website.

The tours tally from May done the 2nd play successful October. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.