United States - February 10, 2025 A 16-year-old boy was rescued from a vertical mine shaft after falling 30 feet when his rope snapped during an exploration with friends on February 10, 2025. Emergency crews from the Placer County Fire Department and Auburn City Fire Department responded at 3:27 p.m. after the victim’s friends led rescuers to the site. The group had ventured 180 feet into the mountain through a horizontal mine shaft before rappelling down a 50-foot drop using household ropes. When one rope broke, the teen fell and became stranded on a precarious ledge. The Placer County Technical Rescue Team deployed a complex rope system and air monitoring before a rescuer rappelled down, secured the teen, and hoisted him to safety. The teen was then transported to a local trauma center for treatment. Authorities warn that such abandoned mines pose serious risks, emphasizing the dangers of exploring unstable terrain.