Teen Rescued From 50-Foot Mine Shaft in California

A 16-year-old boy was rescued from a 50-foot-deep mine shaft in Placer County, California, after the rope he used to rappel down snapped, causing him to fall approximately 30 feet back down. The incident occurred while he and friends were exploring a horizontal mine shaft, and they had used household ropes for the descent. Emergency crews, including the Placer County Fire Department and Cal Fire, were dispatched at around 3:27 p.m. on February 10 to assist the stranded teen, who had become trapped on a ledge after losing his strength. Rescuers utilized a complex rope system and air monitoring to safely extract him from the shaft. Following the rescue, he was transported to a local trauma center for treatment. Videos of the rescue efforts highlight the dangers of such explorations and the quick response of first responders.