After more than 50 hours and three descents into an unstable and abandoned ore mine, rescuers have called off the search for a Magna man indefinitely.
After reaching a dangerous block in the more than 600-foot-deep mine, rescuers had hoped to find another route that would bypass the debris and open up farther down the shaft. Leads from experts, locals and even an 80-year-old ex-miner were attempted without success.Although there are multiple shafts and abandoned mines in the area, all that might have reached the lower portion of the Honorene Mine and possibly Jeremiah Ether-ington's body were caved in and inaccessible. Officials determined sending rescue teams through the debris would put their lives in jeopardy.
"It's very tough. Everybody feels sad we couldn't bring this to a conclusion and find Jeremiah," Tooele County Sheriff Frank Schar-mann said after the search was called off late Monday.
Into its third day, the recovery effort was halted by the debris covering about half the width of the 20-foot-wide shaft some 200 feet from the surface.
Only Tooele County Search and Rescue member Curtis Allen was able to rappel below the debris pile. But, no sign of the fallen man's helmet, backpack or clothing were found.
"I went down approximately 300 to 320 feet, probably a little further than I should have gone because I went below a level where probably two or three tons of material was hanging over my head. It was not secure," Allen said.
A rope team was stopped by the same debris Sunday night.
The third and final descent lasted five hours Monday. As they had been forced to do since the search began Saturday afternoon, rescuers reinforced the tunnel as they descended and searched bypassing horizontal incroppings. The unsecured conditions of the debris brought the final rescue team to the same standstill.
The search was called off after officials met with Etherington's family about 10 p.m. Scharmann said the man's family did not want to leave his body in the shaft, but realized the risks.
"I asked (the mother) to make the decision with me," Scharmann said.
The search began after Etherington descended about 30 feet into the shaft on a thin, nylon rope Saturday. He was standing on a platform of timbers, knocking at the shaft's wall when the timbers gave way and an old water pipe anchoring his rope broke. His friend and spelunking partner, Corey Burningham, 19, watched in terror as Etherington disappeared into the dust.
The Honorene Mine is located near Stockton, five miles west of Tooele and about 40 miles west of Salt Lake City. It is one of dozens of abandoned lead, silver and zinc mines in the Oquirrh foothills. Law enforcement officials have a difficult time keeping would-be thrillseekers away from the mines.
Scharmann said after all the equipment was taken off the mountain Tuesday morning, no extra enforcement would remain to keep others out.
"I could put somebody up here for five days and on the sixth day they'd get in. There's no way manpower or anything else can secure it," he said.
About 20 feet into the Honorene Mine is a steel gate, complete with no trespassing signs, and a large lock that had been shot through the middle and destroyed. Other mines in the area have been dug up after being buried under tons of dirt and had cement walls chipped away.
"It's extremely dangerous. You don't know where these tunnels go. You can get lost. It is dark in there. If you lose your light you don't know in or out or up or down," Allen said.
Overnight Sunday, rescuers camping at the site caught nine people coming over the hill toward the mine's opening. All were escorted off the mountain.
After hearing of the called-off search, Burningham said he had not given up hope that his friend could still be alive.
"No, I'll never accept it," Burningham, of West Valley City, said. "They're going to have to watch this place for years."
The mine has been virtually abandoned since 1928. The entrance leads to a tunnel almost a mile into the mountain before coming to an end at the shaft's vertical opening.
Maps indicated the shaft could be up to 1,000 feet deep. Rescuers were never able to determine the actual depth.
Teams from Millard and Emery counties assisted in the search.
Dave Lauriski of Energy West Mining in Emery County said the lack of closure made leaving the scene difficult, but the "risks were simply unacceptable."
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Honorene Mine
1. 2 teens enter mine
2. One teen lowers himself to a timber 30 feet below.
3. Teen falls from timber, dislodging other debris as he falls.
4. Victim is thought to be at the base of 1,000-foot shaft.
5. Rescuers descend 300 to 320 feet before aborting search because of danger caused by unstable debris at 200 feet that blocks half the width of shaft.