Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008

Rescuers scramble to free Sonora man who fell into mine shaft

SONORA -- A rescue team from Southern California was expected to arrive here late Saturday to free a Sonora man who fell down an abandoned mine shaft Friday.

Darvis Lee Jr., 34, was inside the mine, about 200 feet from the entrance, when he fell down a shaft and injured his legs, said deputy Paul Tualla, a Tuolumne County sheriff's office spokesman.

Tualla said Tuolumne County Search and Rescue team members were able to talk to Lee and lower a helmet, to protect his head from debris, as well as lower food and water but lacked the specialized training and equipment to free him.

"They realized that it was going to be more of a technical rescue," Tualla said.

That's why they called the state Office of Emergency Services for help Saturday. OES is sending a team from Southern California. The team has the technical training and equipment to rescue people trapped in mines.

The team was expected late Saturday.

Tualla gave this account of the accident:

Lee and a friend went to the mine about 9 p.m. Friday. Lee went in to explore. About an hour later, the friend left, thinking Lee would be out shortly. Saturday morning, the friend realized Lee had not come home. The friend and Lee's parents went back to the mine and saw some of Lee's personal effects at the entrance.

They thought Lee still might be in the mine. A neighbor, Donald Nute, who is familiar with the mine, went to check for Lee. Nute was able to talk to Lee.

The mine is about one mile north of Sonora on Jack Page Road. Tualla said Search and Rescue members and Lee's family and friends were gathered Saturday night outside the mine, about 100 feet from its entrance, as they waited for the Southern California team.

Bee staff writer Kevin Valine can be reached at kvaline@modbee.com or 578-2316.