An Iron County man, aged 49, faced a harrowing ordeal this week, falling nearly 50 feet down an abandoned mine shaft in a remote part of Utah. The incident on Tuesday, as reported by ABC4, prompted a quick response from Iron County Search and Rescue teams, who were notified around 4 p.m.
Life Flight, an emergency medical helicopter service, was quick to arrive at the scene, later followed by a deputy of the Iron County Sheriff's Office, who was the one to first make contact with the injured man. As snow began to fall and temperatures dipped below freezing, the necessity to simply just move became a race against the worsening elements. A coordinated effort ensued, with Life Flight transporting members of the Iron County Ropes Team and their equipment to the site, as noted by FOX13.
Once the ropes team was on location, they descended into the mine shaft to administer aid. They discovered the man in a serious condition, suffering from what appeared to be a significant head injury and in an "altered state," according to KSLTV. A rescue member joined the man below to help secure him into a litter for a careful extraction.
Following the rescue effort, the victim was then transported using the deputy's patrol truck to a Gold Cross ambulance. This chain of response ensured that the man could quickly be taken to receive medical care at a hospital in St. George. Despite the harsh conditions, the Iron County Search and Rescue's swift actions ensured to fully take every precaution in safeguarding the victim's life. As of the latest updates, there has been no further information released regarding the man's condition or identity.