Official: Man trapped after roof of Idaho mine collapses 75 feet
The roof of the Lucky Friday mine, owned by Hecla Mining Company, collapsed Friday.
April 16th, 2011
05:40 PM ET

Official: Man trapped after roof of Idaho mine collapses 75 feet

The roof of a northeast Idaho mine collapsed Friday, trapping a man inside and setting off a complex rescue operation to save him, the mine's owner and operator said Saturday.

The miner was one of two men working in part of the Lucky Friday mine when a 10-foot by 20-foot section of earth fell about 75 feet on him around 5:30 p.m. Friday, according to Phil Baker, the president and CEO of the Hecla Mining Company.

While the other man was able to get out unharmed, the trapped miner hasn't been heard from since.

"We're doing everything we can to reach the employee and will continue to make every effort, as long as it takes," said Baker, whose company has owned and operated the mine outside Mullan since 1958. "We are going to bring him out - that is what we're working toward right now."

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soundoff (9 Responses)
  1. banasy

    I hope he's ok, and that he make it out alive. Prayers to him and his family.

    April 16, 2011 at 8:28 pm | Report abuse |
  2. 1608

    10by20 fell 75 feet ON HIM? I don't think any one can save him.

    April 16, 2011 at 9:49 pm | Report abuse |
  3. banasy

    Well, the other man got out safely. I hope they can save it.

    April 16, 2011 at 10:35 pm | Report abuse |
  4. banasy

    Save *him*.

    April 16, 2011 at 11:05 pm | Report abuse |
  5. RUFFNUTT

    i'd hate to be a miner.. caves scare me ever since i read tom sawyer..

    April 17, 2011 at 8:25 am | Report abuse |
  6. wth ?

    poor guy. Thoughts & prayers with him and his family X x x

    April 17, 2011 at 11:12 am | Report abuse |
  7. JEEZ!!!!

    Injun Joe! Injun Joe! Run, Becky, run! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    April 17, 2011 at 3:36 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Dan Quail

    potatoe... .

    April 17, 2011 at 8:03 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Silver Valley Resident

    I have lived here in the Silver Valley of Idaho my entire life. It is always hard to have a mining accident. Unlike other work related accidents where you know right away who makes it and who doesn't, mining is a long time consuming wait to find out if your friend or loved one is alive. My prayers go out to the Marek family for Pete's safe return. They think he may be on the backside of the fall, and we still hold out hope that he is safely waiting to be rescued. I wonder why CNN isn't reporting on it on their TV show. Must not be important enough. After all it is only one man. But to us it is not just that, it is a friend.

    April 18, 2011 at 2:49 pm | Report abuse |
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