A teenager was rescued from a California mineshaft after he and his friends decided to explore the cave using household rope, officials said.
The Placer County Fire Department reported that on Feb. 10, crews, in conjunction with the Auburn City Fire Department, were dispatched to a medical rescue mission to assist a 16-year-old boy who found himself trapped in a vertical mine shaft approximately 50 feet deep.
Upon arrival, the crews were guided into the cave by the victim’s companions and were briefed on the situation. It was revealed that the boy and his friends had ventured into the shaft for exploration purposes, following a 180-foot trek through a horizontal shaft into the mountain’s side.

California emergency crews rescued a teenager from a 50-foot-deep mineshaft. (Credit: CAL FIRE NEU /TMX)
Once safe, the victim was taken to a local hospital to be treated.
In a statement released by the fire department, it was highlighted that the Placer County Fire Department Rescue Team successfully conducted a technical rescue operation within the mountain’s confines, emphasizing the challenging and unique natural hazards that exist in the rugged Placer County landscape. The department underscored its unwavering dedication to public safety in such diverse and demanding scenarios, relying on their extensively trained special operations teams to serve the community effectively.