Utah Man Sustains 'Substantial' Head Trauma After Falling Nearly 50 Ft. Down Abandoned Mine

Preliminary information suggests the man "may have been preparing to descend into the mine when the edge gave way"

A man in Utah who fell approximately 50 feet down an abandoned mine was found with "substantial" head trauma on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

According to Iron County Search and Rescue, the Iron County Technical Ropes Rescue Team received a call about a fall in a mine in a rural part of Iron County at approximately 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Life Flight, the first of multiple agencies to arrive at the scene, per an Iron County Search and Rescue call-out summary, made verbal contact with the unidentified male.

After a deputy from the Iron County Sheriff's Office arrived and began talking with the male, Life Flight left the scene to help transport members from the Iron County Ropes Team to the area, which "dramatically reduced the response time in rescuing the victim," the call-out summary states.

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"Once the ropes team arrived on scene, they immediately descended down the mine shaft and made visual contact with the victim. It was apparent to the rescuer that the victim had sustained substantial head trauma, and was in an altered state," the call-out summary adds. "An additional rescue was lowered to assist and they were able to place the patient in the litter and raise him out of the mine."

According to a press release from the Iron County Sheriff's Office obtained by Iron County Today, upon reaching the surface, "the victim’s condition deteriorated, necessitating immediate medical attention."

The man – who was later identified as a 49-year-old male, per KSL-TV — was taken to an ambulance using a deputy's patrol truck before being transported to St. George Regional Hospital for further treatment. PEOPLE reached out the Iron County Sheriff's Office but was not able to get an update on the man's current condition.

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While the cause of the man's fall remains under investigation, Iron County Today reports, citing the sheriff's office press release, that preliminary information suggests that the man "may have been preparing to descend into the mine when the edge gave way."

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"An examination of the site revealed disturbed soil and no signs of anchor failure, indicating potentially hazardous conditions," the press release adds. "The community is reminded of the risks associated with abandoned mines and the importance of adhering to safety precautions.