A tour guide tragically lost his life after an elevator malfunction trapped 23 people up to 1,000 feet underground at a former Colorado gold mine, now a popular tourist attraction. The incident occurred at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek, as confirmed by the Teller County Sheriff's Office on Friday.
The victim, Patrick Weier, 46, was killed during the accident, leaving behind a seven-year-old child.
"He was a good man," said Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell during a press conference. "I believe he was trying to keep everyone safe. Though we don’t know exactly what happened, it appears he may have been a hero from the start."
Sheriff Mikesell noted the inherent risks of dealing with heavy machinery at such depths, calling it a tragic accident.
