ICYMI: Utah Snowmobiler Crashes Into Mine Shaft and Dangles 20 Feet Above Death!
A 53-year-old Utah man’s snowmobiling trip turned life-threatening when he fell into a mine shaft, sparking a high-risk 5-hour rescue. 🌐 #News #HeberUT #Utah #Rescue
HEBER, UT – 53-year-old man’s snowmobiling adventure took a terrifying turn when he plunged into a vertical mine shaft in Utah’s remote backcountry. The dramatic rescue mission, which involved multiple agencies and specialized equipment, lasted over five hours as teams worked to pull him to safety.
Snowmobiler Crashes Into Mine Shaft
The man was riding through the rugged Soapstone Basin trail near Heber City on Sunday morning when disaster struck.
Authorities say he accidentally drove over a hidden mine shaft, sending both him and his snowmobile plummeting into the dark, icy depths.
He came to a halt about 20 feet above the shaft’s bottom, where he and the snowmobile were left precariously dangling.
High-Stakes Rescue Operation
The Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team received the distress call around 10:17 a.m.
They immediately dispatched first responders to the scene. Given the mine shaft’s dangerous conditions, the Wasatch High Angle Rescue team was brought in to set up a complex rope system to lift the man out.
The operation was no small task.
Crews from Summit County Search and Rescue, Utah Division of State Parks, South Summit EMS, and the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office joined forces to assist.
Their teamwork proved critical, as the entire effort to bring him back to solid ground took 5.5 hours.
Injuries Force Medical Evacuation
Due to the severity of the man’s injuries, emergency personnel called in Intermountain Life Flight for immediate evacuation. The nature of his injuries was not disclosed, but the response from multiple agencies highlights the seriousness of the situation.
Despite the dangerous conditions and long rescue, authorities safely extracted the injured man, bringing an end to the harrowing ordeal in Utah’s winter wilderness.
RELATED TOPICS: Accidents and Rescues | Utah
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