Officials in Colorado have revealed the identity of the individual who lost their life at a former gold mine, now a tourist site.

Patrick Weier, a tour guide at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, died after getting trapped underground for several hours due to an elevator malfunction on Thursday, as reported by authorities.

Around noon, the mine’s elevator, located near Cripple Creek, faced technical difficulties that posed “a serious risk for those involved,” stated Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell during a press briefing on Thursday. Tourists present became stranded at the mine’s bottom, approximately 1,000 feet down.

Emergency responders from both state and local agencies managed to rescue 11 individuals initially, including two children and four others who had minor injuries, using a trolley system. However, the remaining 12, which included Weier, were trapped at the mine’s bottom for roughly six hours, Mikesell shared.

During a news conference on Friday, Mikesell confirmed that the other individuals affected in the incident only experienced minor injuries.

“Teller County has around 30,000 residents, but the community where this gentleman lived has fewer than 400. The nearby town of Cripple Creek has about 1,200 residents,” noted Teller County Commissioner Dan Williams at the press briefing. “Think about that for a moment. This is a tragedy for the county. It extends to all of Colorado.”

Details emerge regarding the incident at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine

A comprehensive investigation is currently in progress to ascertain the cause of the elevator failure.

“We are aware that the incident occurred at the 500-foot level, where there was a problem with the doors, leading to the failure,” Mikesell explained. “We are still unsure about the specifics of how and why this happened.”

Mikesell also pointed out that the elevator has a limited capacity.

“If you’ve seen these elevators, they are not spacious. Generally, four to six people can fit inside, depending on size, making it quite cramped,” he remarked. “At the 500-foot mark, we don’t know if it dropped or not. Initial reports suggested a drop, but it may have become stuck; the specifics remain unclear.”

The sheriff added that the mine is run by a family.

“The family operating this mining and tourism venture are good people,” he said. “They’ve been in this business for about 60 years, and this incident is truly tragic.”

Honoring Patrick Weier

Heartfelt tributes are flowing in for Patrick Weier, who is remembered as a loving father to a 7-year-old son.

A GoFundMe campaign has been established to support his child’s future.

“Every donation, regardless of size, can significantly help,” wrote Weier’s brother John in the fundraiser. “We thank you for your kindness and generosity in helping us safeguard my brother’s legacy by caring for what mattered most to him.”

Those who knew Weier took to Facebook to remember him as a “great daddy.”

Tributes on social media described him as a “hero” and “a shining light in a dark world.”