Successful Mine Rescues in the United States

Compiled by Rob McGee for the United States Mine Rescue Association

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— 2018 —
May / Hi-Crush Sand Mine, Whitehall, Wisconsin
Robbie Gunderson was rescued at the Hi-Crush sand mine near Whitehall, Wisconsin when the bulldozer he was operating went into the holding pond and became submerged under several feet of water. As the rescue efforts began, some 10 million gallons of water were released from the pond to lower its level the company statement said. Officials at Hi-Crush said Gunderson was underwater for 2½ hours before he was rescued.
— 2017 —
Dec / Abandoned Mine Shaft Rescue, Golden, Colorado
A 15-year-old was pulled from an abandoned mine shaft near Golden Colorado after more than 3 hours. Crews with the West Metro Fire Rescue rushed to rescue theteenagerwho was trapped in the old mine shaft. The boy was climbing in the old mine shaft when hisropesnapped and he fell about 60 feet down the deep hole. He was already 40 feet down when he fell, so rescuers had to bring him up from 100 feet below. He was rushed to St. Anthony’s Hospital for treatment of a broken leg.
May / Unnamed noncoal mine, Tooele County, Utah
Trent Widdop, 27, of American Fork, fell into a mine shaft on his UTV (utility task vehicle) at about 2:00 a.m. while searching for firewood. The UTV lodged in the shaft at a depth of about 15-20 feet, but Widdop fell off the vehicle. He fell 15-20 feet to a ledge and then slid another 50 feet to the bottom of the shaft. His family began searching for him when he did not return to camp and finally located the UTV around 5:00 a.m., when they called 911. Crews from the Utah County Sheriff’s office, Tooele County Sheriff’s office, Unified Fire Authority, and Tooele County Search and Rescue responded. Search and Rescue retrieved Widdop from the shaft and he was flown to the hospital with serious injuries.
Jun / La Farge Gravel Mine Rescue, Placitas, New Mexico
Two workers became trapped while working on equipment at the La Farge gravel mine. Attempting their rescue, two others also became engulfed in the material. Two of the workers were buried up to their necks, a third to his chest and the fourth to his waist when emergency personnel arrived. The last man was freed from his confines 6 hours after the incident occurred.
— 2016 —
Jan / Cargill Salt Elevator Incident, Lansing, New York
Rescue crews freed 17 miners in upstate New York after they spent a terrifying 10 hours down in one of the world's deepest salt mines. The first four of the Cargill Salt miners emerged to the surface in a basket around 7 a.m. The rest were rescued from the salt mine over the next two hours.
Jul / Abandoned Iron Mine, Iron Ridge, Wisconsin
Three teenage boys got lost in a labyrinthine abandoned iron mine in southeastern Wisconsin for hours, spending the night huddled together against the cold before rescuers found them alive and safe. The three were Tate Rose and Zachary Heron, both 16, and 15-year-old Samuel Lein.
Aug / Keystone No. 1 Abandoned Mine Rescue, Keystone, West Virginia
Three men were found and rescued in the abandoned Keystone No. 1 mine following a search lasting more than 12 hours. The three men found, Justin Bolen, Brandon Collins and Steve Cordle, along with Dustin Bolen and Jimmie were arrested following an investigation into the copper thefts at the mine. A fourth man lost in the mine, Clay Epperly, was never found.Source document.
— 2015 —
Sep / Abandoned Mine Rescue, Adelanto, California
After a man became trapped in an abandoned mine near Adelanto, California, the call was for a vertical shaft mine rescue. The subject was 40 feet down a shaft with a level adit that went on for 20 feet. He had hand over handed down a poly rope to see inside the mine. When his friends tied the rope to a quad and tried to pull him out, the rope broke. He fell a distance back down the shaft, landing on a pile of discarded mattresses at the bottom of the mine. Since vehicles could not access the shaft, equipment was hiked in and pickets were set up for anchors. An EMT from the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Cave & Technical Rescue Team was lowered to bring the man to the surface. The subject was unhurt, and after a nearly 8 hour entrapment, he was raised in a harness and declined further treatment.
Jan / Keystone No. 1 Abandoned Mine Rescue, Keystone, West Virginia
In January 2015, a McDowell County man had to be rescued from the Keystone No. 1 mine after entering it to steal copper, officials said (see page 2).The injured man and his partner became separated after entering the mine.The partner made his way out, but the injured man did not.According to a source with knowledge of the incident, the trespasser survived 20 hours in 12 percent oxygen in a rescue effort lasting 6-8 hours.Source document.
— 2010 —
Jan / Doe Run No. 29 Equipment Fire, Viburnum, Missouri
Three Missouri miners were rescued from a DPOS after being trapped more than 5 hours in the No. 29 mine of the Doe Run Company near Viburnum on January 21, 2010. Their escape was cut off when a 30-ton haul truck caught fire. The trapped miners were: Robert McClain, truck driver; Michael Byers, loader operator; and Timothy Yount, scaler operator.
— 2006 —
Jan / Sago Mine Explosion, Tallmansville, West Virginia
One miner, Randal McCloy Jr., is found alive after 40 hours following the Sago Mine Explosion in West Virginia. Twelve miners died in the accident. This disaster prompted the creation of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (MINER Act).
May / Darby No. 1 Mine Explosion, Holmes Mill, Kentucky
Paul Ledford, roof bolter, was rescued after more than 2 hours following the explosion. Ledford had traveled approximately 1,050 feet in the No. 5 Entry where he collapsed and lost consciousness. He regained consciousness at approximately 3:05 a.m. and crawled into the No. 6 Entry, where he was discovered by rescuers. He was then taken out of the mine on a battery-powered personnel carrier and transported to Lonesome Pine Hospital in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, where he was treated.
— 2004 —
Jun / Unnamed noncoal mine, Utah County, Utah
A 21-year-old Riverton man was hospitalized after falling about 60 feet into a gravel pit on his all-terrain vehicle. Utah County Sheriff’s deputies say he was riding with a group of friends around 3:30 p.m. in the Fivemile Pass area when the accident happened. Officers say he drove his four-wheeler through a break in the wall and fell. The man suffered neck and back injuries and several broken bones. He was flown to the University of Utah Hospital.
Aug / Unnamed noncoal mine, Ogden, Utah
Steve Mahoney, 46, of Ogden suffered a broken leg from a fall in a mine. He had descended an 85-foot winze located 150-200 feet inside the mine using a 75-foot polypropylene waterskiing tow rope. He jumped the remaining ten feet and was injured (how he planned to reach the rope to exit is unknown). A companion summoned help, although she originally denied being in the mine and gave changing stories to emergency responders. The rescue by Weber County Search and Rescue required a difficult in-mine litter hoist and a scree slope evacuation to get the victim to an ambulance.
— 2003 —
Jan / McElroy Mine Shaft Explosion, Cameron, West Virginia
Rescuers clambered into an oversized bucket attached to a crane and were lowered to two injured miners below. They brought out Benjamin Bair and Richard Brumley. They were transported to Pittsburgh's Mercy Hospital. Bair was listed in critical condition with second-degree burns and multiple fractures. Brumley was in serious condition with second-degree burns, puncture wounds and a concussion. The five rescuers were honored with Carnegie Medals for heroism for saving injured workers after the explosion in a mine shaft. They included Sheriff’s deputies, Brent Wharry and Steven Cook; Donald Kline, paramedic; and miners Aaron Meyer and Jack Cain.
— 2002 —
May / Abandoned Mine Rescue, Kern County, California
While riding his dirt bike in a remote part of Kern County, California, a 10-year-old boy fell 200 feet into an abandoned mine shaft. In a rescue which lastedseveral hours and was executed by the Indian Wells Valley Mine Rescue Team and the Kern County Fire Department, the boy and his rescuer, Sean Halpin, were raised to the surface. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was kept 24 hours for observation and then released.
Jul / Quecreek Mine Inundation, Friedens, Pennsylvania
Following an inundation of water from an adjacent abandoned mine, nine miners were rescued after being trapped more than 3 days in the Quecreek Mine in Friedens, Pennsylvania.
Aug / Walter L. Houser Strip Asphyxiation, Kittanning, Pennsylvania
At 7:15 a.m., Timothy E. Barrett, a 40-year-old auger machine operator became overcome from low oxygen after crawling in a 30-inch diameter auger hole at the Walter L Houser Strip mine. Barrett crawled into the auger hole but did not return, nor did he respond when Darlene Orr, helper, called to him. Orr crawled into the hole and found Barrett unconscious about 120 feet into the hole, but was unable to drag him out. Joseph O'Donnell, MSHA inspector, donned a self contained breathing device, tied two ropes around himself and entered the hole. Barrett was found unconscious due to the oxygen deficiency. O'Donnell tried to drag Barrett, but could not. He then tied a rope to Barrett and signaled to the rescue personnel to begin pulling. Barrett was removed from the hole at approximately 9:15 a.m. was given emergency medical treatment. Barrett was transported to Armstrong County Memorial Hospital where he unfortunately was pronounced dead at 9:44 a.m.Source document.
— 2000 —
Apr / Unnamed noncoal mine, Utah County, Utah
Randy Gatton, 26, of Provo, was riding a motorcycle with a friend when he fell approximately 30 feet down a mine shaft and landed with the motorcycle atop him. He suffered a sprained ankle, scrapes and bruises. He was in the mine for three hours before being rescued.
Jul / Willow Creek Mine Explosions & Fire, Helper, Utah
More than 10 hours following the explosions in the Willow Creek Mine, four injured miners were laboriously brought to the surface by mine rescue teams. The rescued men included William Burton, Tyson Hales, Cory Nielsen and Shane Stansfield. Two other miners were found dead by rescue personnel.
— 1998 —
Dec / Stateline noncoal mine, Modena, Utah
Todd Meeks, 36, of Ivins, slipped and fell about 100 feet down a mine while prospecting. He suffered a broken arm, broken leg, and other injuries and was not discovered and rescued until the day after the accident. He was hospitalized in critical condition.
— 1995 —
Feb / Unnamed noncoal mine, Tooele County, Utah
Mark Hoefnagel, 20, and Anthony Ballif, 23, both of Sandy, crashed their Jeep through a fence and plunged 50 feet down a mine shaft around 3:00 p.m. They survived the fall and were able to get out of the vehicle, but not climb out of the shaft. The two were rescued around 7:30 by another party of off-roaders who heard their calls for help.Hoefnagel was hospitalized in serious but stable condition with internal injuries; Ballif was treated for minor injuries and released.
— 1991 —
Aug / McElroy Mine Roof Fall, Moundsville, West Virginia
70 miners were rescued after more than seven hours following a roof fall at the Consolidation Coal McElroy Mine near Moundsville, West Virginia. The fall occurred when a mine car struck a roof support causing the collapse. Rescuers lowed food and extra mine lamps to the trapped miners during their ordeal.
Sep / Unnamed noncoal mine, Tooele County, Utah
Terry Blackburn, 16, of South Jordan was hiking with two friends after dark to camp near the rim of the Kennecott pit. Around 10:30 or midnight Blackburn stumbled 20-30 feet into a 4-foot-wide ventilation shaft. His friends summoned help, but were unable to relocate the shaft for some time. Blackburn was not rescued until 5:25 a.m. He suffered a broken leg, four broken teeth, and cuts and bruises.
Nov / Unnamed noncoal mine, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah
Kent Parker, 16, of Sandy fell down a 50-foot shaft near Alta while snowboarding. He did not see the shaft until he was airborne in it. His companions did not see him fall and continued down the mountain. He was trapped for 90 minutes before being discovered. It took an hour for rescuers to remove him from the shaft. He suffered a concussion and hypothermia and was hospitalized for several days.
Dec / Rocky Mouth Canyon Mine, Sandy, Utah
Adam Smolensky, 19, of Sandy crawled through a steel barrier installed by the UAMRP to enter the mine around 8:30 a.m. and fell into a 25-foot-deep winze located about 20 feet inside the mine. Passers-by discovered him around 1:15 p.m. and summoned his parents, who unsuccessfully tried to rescue him.Smolensky was finally rescued by Sandy Fire Department and Salt Lake County Search and Rescue crews about 3:00 p.m.Smolensky was hospitalized with a shoulder injury. Sandy firefighter Tad Norris suffered a broken nose during the rescue when a steel bar being removed from the entry hit him in the face.
— 1989 —
Sep / Hidden Treasure Mine, Stockton, Utah
Joshua Dennis, a 10-year-old gone missing from a Boy Scout exploring trip, was rescued after nearly one week from the abandoned Hidden Treasure Mine near Stockton, Utah. The boy was found by a Utah Power and Light Company mine rescue team, ranked among the best teams in the country.
— 1988 —
May / Unnamed noncoal mine, Fivemile Pass, Utah
John Carlson, 25, of West Valley City was lowering himself into the mine when the rope broke. He fell approximately 50 feet and sustained minor injuries. He required rescue by the county search-and-rescue team.
Jul / Monarch noncoal mine, North Willow Canyon, Utah
Phillip Butterfield, 15, entered the mine portal without a flashlight or safety gear and slipped down a 30-foot winze. His father, William Butterfield, 44, went after him and could not climb out. They were rescued by the Tooele County Sheriff’s search and rescue unit.
Jul / Maxfieldnoncoal mine, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah
John Mazuran, 16, and two companions tried to explore a winze located about half a mile inside the mine.Mazuran lost his footing about 60 feet down and slid another 100 feet to the bottom. He was unable to climb out. His friends summoned the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s office, which performed the rescue. Lt. Mike Wilkinson, Salt Lake County Sheriff’s office, also reported another incident of a group of four people trapped 1/3 mile inside the mine unable to climb out. The mine contains vertical drop-offs and 18% grades.
— 1987 —
Oct / Baby Jessica McClure's Entrapment, Midland, Texas
Rescuers worked for 58 hours to free "Baby Jessica" McClure from an eight-inch (20 cm) well casing 22 feet (6.7 m) below the ground. The story gained worldwide attention (leading to some criticism as a media circus), and later became the subject of a 1989 television movie Everybody's Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure on ABC. As presented in the movie, a vital part of the rescue was the use of the then relatively new technology of waterjet cutting.
Oct / Diamond Gold Mine Entrapment, Leadville, Colorado
Five miners trapped for more than a day were hauled 800 feet to safety in a bucket about the size of a garbage can. They became trapped when a cable suspending a 3-ton piece of machinery snapped, sending the equipment and debris plunging into the Diamond gold and silver mine at Leadville, Colorado. The mine was owned by the Leadville Corporation.
Dec / Slate Top Mine Roof Fall, Woodbine, Kentucky
Charles Simpson, Jr. was rescued 19 hours after a roof fall accident at the Slate Top Coal Company mine near Woodbine, Kentucky.
— 1986 —
Jan / Jim Fisk Prospect, Ophir Canyon, Utah
Stephen Sandford, 65, a Boy Scout leader from Ogden was exploring the mine with five scouts. About 300 feet inside he fell 60 feet down a winze and over a 12-foot cliff, suffering a broken wrist and sprains. The scouts hiked nearly two miles to summon help.Sandford was rescued by the Tooele County Search and Rescue Patrol.
— 1985 —
Apr / Powderhorn Mine Roof Fall, DeBeque Canyon, Colorado
Trapped for 37 hours following a roof fall accident, Curtis Sanders was rescued and walked out of the Powderhorn Mine in DeBeque Canyon, Colorado.