One person has been killed after a lift at a gold mine tourist attraction in Colorado malfunctioned.
It happened around noon on Thursday at Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine attraction in Cripple Creek.
Twelve people were trapped about 300m (1.000ft) down for several hours but were late rescued.
The trapped group were already underground when the lift had an unspecified problem as it transported another load of visitors.
The incident killed one person – it’s not yet been revealed how they died – and four others suffered minor injuries.
That group was able to return to the surface, but the others were stuck below ground while the lift was checked.
A mineshaft lift carrying tourists malfunctioned, causing the fatality and injuring others. Pic: AP
Radio communication with the 11 tourists and their guide was established and Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell said they had water, blankets and chairs.
He said those trapped weren’t told someone had died, only that there was an issue with the lift, in order to keep them calm.
Firefighters were put on standby for a rescue in case the lift could not be fixed.
“If we have to, we can bring people up on those ropes, but it also subjects those first responders now to the threat
and endangerment of doing so,” said Mr Mikesell.
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The mine has been a tourist attraction for 50 years. Pic: AP
The former mine is about 110 miles (180km) south of Denver and has been operating tours for 50 years.
It opened in the late 1800s and closed in 1961.
The ride to the bottom takes about two minutes and visitors can see veins of gold in the rock and ride an underground tram, according to the mine’s website.
