Man who fell into Arizona mine 'fortunate' to survive

This Oct. 17, 2018 photo provided by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office shows a rescue team lowering themselves into an old abandoned mine shaft to rescue a man who fell into the shaft on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, the near Aguila, Ariz. A hospital spokeswoman said the man who fell into the old abandoned mine shaft is in good condition awaiting surgery for two broken legs. Sheriff's officials say the man fell into the shaft Monday an was found two days later by someone who heard his calls for help. (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office via AP) less

This Oct. 17, 2018 photo provided by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office shows a Maricopa County Mountain Rescue team prepare to rescue a man who fell into an old abandoned mine shaft near Aguila, Ariz. A hospital spokeswoman said the man who fell into the old abandoned mine shaft is in good condition awaiting surgery for two broken legs. Sheriff's officials say the man fell into the shaft Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, and was found two days later by someone who heard his calls for help. (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office via AP) less

This Oct. 17, 2018 photo provided by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office shows a rescue team gathers to rescue a man who fell into an old abandoned mine shaft near Aguila, Ariz. A hospital spokeswoman said the man who fell into the old abandoned mine shaft is in good condition awaiting surgery for two broken legs. Sheriff's officials say the man fell into the shaft Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, and was found two days later by someone who heard his calls for help. (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office via AP) less

Man who fell into Arizona mine 'fortunate' to survive

PHOENIX (AP) — A man who fell to the bottom of an old abandoned mine shaft in Arizona is fortunate to be alive, the head of a volunteer rescue team said Thursday, one day after a team gingerly lifted the man some 100 feet (30 meters) to safety in a metal gurney.

John Waddell, who owns the land in the town of Aguila where the shaft is located, was in good condition Thursday at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix, said hospital spokeswoman Alexis Kramer-Ainza. She said Waddell was undergoing surgery for two broken legs.

"He is a very fortunate individual," said Operations Commander Roger Yensen of the Mountain Rescue Posse of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. Fifteen members of the posse overseen by the office's Search and Rescue Team rushed with specialized equipment to the property northwest of Phoenix after getting the call Wednesday afternoon.

The sheriff's office was contacted by one of Waddell's friends, who had known he was going to attempt a descent into the shaft. When the friend hadn't heard from Waddell for a few days, he ventured by the shaft and heard his cries for help, Yensen said. He had been in the shaft alone for two days since Monday, when he was slowly lowering himself toward the bottom with the rope and lost control of his descent, falling at least half the way to the rocky ground.

When the posse got to the scene around 4 p.m. Wednesday, a two-way radio was dropped to Waddell to allow him to talk more easily to his rescuers.

One rescuer rappelled into the shaft and assessed Waddell's injuries, determining that he had possible ankle and leg fractures as well as friction burns to his hands. He was alert, but dehydrated and was given IV fluids.

Yesen said the team used a metal derrick that Waddell had constructed over the shaft to lower himself into shaft and explore below.

It took about three hours to lift Waddell to safety. He was then airlifted to the hospital in Phoenix, about 90 miles (144 kilometers) away.

Sheriff Paul Penzone said he had no doubt that the posse, working with his office's Search and Rescue Team, saved Waddell's life.