A Utah man fell down an abandoned mine and sustained what has been described as "substantial head trauma" in the process.
According to People, Iron County Technical Ropes Rescue Team received a call about a fall in a mine in a rural part of Iron County on November 5th. The call came around 4:00 PM local time.
The first agency to arrive on the scene was Life Flight. The agency made verbal contact with the man in the mine. Once an Iron County Sheriff's deputy arrived on scene, the Life Flight crew left the scene and headed to help transport members of the Ropes Team to the area. Such collaboration helped get the Ropes Team on scene quickly. Thus, the response time in rescuing the victim was "dramatically reduced," which is not a detail which should be forgotten.
Once on scene, members of the Iron County Technical Ropes Rescue Team made their way down into the mine. Eventually, the team had descended down to where the man laid. Upon their making visual contact with the victim, it was reportedly obvious the man had suffered significant head trauma. Moreover, it was reported that the man was in an "altered state."
Regardless of the man's conditions, rescue crews continued to work efficiently. A litter was lowered into the mine, the victim was loaded in, and then raised out of the mine. According to a press release from the Iron County Sheriff's Office, the victim's condition deteriorated upon reaching the surface, after being raised some 50-feet out of the mine. As a result, the man received "immediate medical attention."
Utah Man Is Badly Injured After Falling Down Abandoned Mine
The man, who has yet to be identified, is 49 years-old. No update has been given on the man's current condition, but it was confirmed that he was originally transported to St. George Regional Hospital for treatment.
No cause has yet to be given for the man's fall down the mine. The tragedy is a harsh reminder of the dangers that can accompany exploring abandoned areas. In Utah, many visitors enjoy a plethora of opportunities to get outside in beautiful landscapes, such as Zion National Park. But, all visitors must remember that precautions exist for a reason, and that the natural world can be extremely unforgiving.
