Disaster at defunct Colorado gold mine leaves more than 10 trapped

One person has died and 12 others remain trapped 1,000 feet inside a Colorado gold mine after an equipment malfunction. 

The incident happened inside the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine near Cripple Creek on Thursday afternoon. 

At a press conference, Sheriff Jason Mikesell with the Teller County Sheriff's Office confirmed the death of one person inside the mine. 

According to the Sheriff, a malfunction with the elevator system created a 'severe danger' for those aboard while they were 500 feet into the mine. 

He said that rescue teams arrived and managed to pull eleven people to safety who were stuck at the halfway point in the shaft, with a further twelve stranded. 

Authorities have said that those stuck at the bottom of the mine have blankets, chairs and water, are in good health, and are communicating with rescue teams.

Officials have said that there are at least four people who suffered minor injuries which included back and neck pain were treated at the scene. 

Two children were also among those that have already been pulled from the mine by rescue teams. It remains unclear as to how the elevator inside the shaft failed.

The sheriff said that one of the 12 trapped is an employee with mine safety experience and the other 11 are tourists.

Colorado Springs Fire Chief Randy Royal said: 'I have the utmost confidence in the work my crews are doing and I hope our friends in Teller County feel the passion and heart they have to perform these rescues and to keep them safe. We're here to help our neighbors when they need us.'

The mine, which is a tourist attraction, officially closed in the 1960s but has continued to offer tours which take people 100 stories deep into the earth. 

According to the company website the tour involves a two minute ride down into the mine where tourists can walk a quarter mile of underground terrain. 

According to the Mollie Kathleen website, the last day of the tours for the season was due to be this Sunday. 

Colorado Governor Jared Polis said he would be sending assistance to the scene to help in the rescue. 

In a statement, Polis said: 'I have spoken to the Teller County Sheriff and County Commissioners and will stay in touch through the course of this rescue effort. 

'The state is assisting Teller County and sending resources to rescue those inside the mine. 

'We will do everything possible and assist the county to ensure a speedy and safe resolution of the situation.'

The Governor said that a mine rescue team from the Department of Natural Resources was on its way to the scene to assist in the rescue mission.