Fell down a mineshaft

[Anolphart]

Ill just go for a harmless stroll in the middle of the night amongst some open mine shafts in Lightning Ridge, that should be fun
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/woman-res...-mine-shaft-for-two-days-20171218-h06f6e.html

I wonder if she found any opals while she was contemplating her predicament?

 

[DetectingSA]

Wow unlucky, but it happens.

Be precarious out there guys, and always let someone know where you're going and when you expect to be back!

This could have easily ended in disaster

 

[Jaros]

Good post for the Drone Zone.

 

[AussieChris]

I came so close to going down one in my teens, slipped in some dry casuarina needles when I got too close to a hard rock shaft while out bowhunting any pigs I could ambush or really brazen foxes I could call that were feeding during the day. I had put my bow down beside a tree to have a closer look at the shaft, the bow slipped and almost went in but as I lunged for it I too slipped in those darn dry pine needles, was quick enough to grab hold of some exposed roots and then slip my foot over the bow as it was going over the edge.

Discovered there was an adit about 150m down and across from it with drifts and further vertical shafts branching off past the one I near went down, there was no evidence of an old headframe so might have just been a ventilation shaft, not sure, there were quite a few sleepers at the bottom of the shaft so maybe they were the headframe tossed back in.

I still think about how close I was to lights out.....possibly 30m down jagged rock sides to a pile of sleepers that went god knows how far down below the now waterline of a cross section in the tunnel. I'd still be there King of the Jenga pile, grinning at any hapless bugger that stumbled across the old mine, although pretty fair chance of no one being back there since I came across it.

 

[Anolphart]

I bet you needed one of these afterwards ...

 

[GT_Gold_OG]

Boyfriend was at camp 100metres away and hadn't found her after 2 days ? He pushed her down it lol

 

[AussieChris]

Haha not wrong mate, I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest, one of a few close calls.

 

[user 7268]

Have cringed many times when have seen people literally jump into a hollow or ground depression without hesitation. Growing up in the Chewton Castlemaine area and always being in the bush ferreting and doing what kids did before video games were invented was taught at a very early age how a few sticks followed by a collection of leaf mould and even with grass growing hid well the abyss that may lay beneath. The floor being as strong as the weight the rotting twigs could bare. Was nothing rare to lose cattle to those that had obviously ventured in at the temptation of the sweet green grass. If in doubt test it out before venturing into any depression especially if in a known shaft area :Y: Remembering that over the years the shaft entrance may be now in what is only a mild depression as the years of weather have worn down the removed earth from around it's entrance.

She is one lucky lady as could so easily have been missed by searchers or in fact killed in the fall :Y:

Judging by the helmet one would presume that the bike entered before the rider .................. luckily

 

[Syndyne]

I did read in the article that she admitted to tripping through the barbed wire fence surrounding the shaft (All the shafts here are required to be filled in or covered and fenced off safely).

Lucky it was only shallow at 24 feet deep otherwise it would've been a dire outcome. It definitely does seem to be a bit suss to me as it's only the third time I've ever heard of someone falling down a shaft here at the Ridge over the last several decades. I believe it was in the dark also. Obviously not the sharpest tool in the shed.

It may only seem like a lighthearted or a minor incident to the outsiders of the mining industry, but for those of us left who mine up here full time and rely on it for an income will once again pay for the mistakes of someone who simply shouldn't have been wandering on the fields, let alone in the dark.

I pity the owner of the claim as they now face a $40,000+ fine and an extra few grand on top of that if accident is proven to be their fault -as a result of a poorly secured shaft etc.

Gotta love it.

 

[Hunting the yellow]

they need a simple fence around them or even a few star pickets but gee you got to be really stupid to walk around in the dark with or without a torch on a known mine field

 

[Mr Magoo]

Judging by the helmet one would presume that the bike entered before the rider .................. luckily

Went down backwards with the bike from my understanding.

 

[pete165]

Yea Heard this on the news. Must have had a death wish. What numbnut goes for a midnight stroll in an area known for abandoned mines with out a torch and letting someone know where they are intending to go.

 

[user 7268]

Judging by the helmet one would presume that the bike entered before the rider .................. luckily

Went down backwards with the bike from my understanding.

Different incident ................... Lachlan Smith

 

[Mr Magoo]

Judging by the helmet one would presume that the bike entered before the rider .................. luckily

Went down backwards with the bike from my understanding.

Different incident ................... Lachlan Smith

[video=480,360]https://youtu.be/FCpvmfhVyco[/video]

 

[user 7268]

Yes sorry thought you were referring to this incident as posted below as this bloke went down ................... 45 ft down with bike and petrol leaking on him. After watching your vid on the pic I originally posted considering the bloke was on his own and under the bike has to be one of the luckiest blokes out there. I think going by his manner in the video was the cool and calmness in his manner that probably saved him. :Y: No biggy but as either way I'd rather not be in either incident.

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/re...e/news-story/1a9c89a0ac05362c0eba48c9e21fa841

 

[Keitzy]

Both of the falls are crazy high to survive... the bloke in the video but, even with Rec reg on ya bike arnt u ment to stick to marked/made trails instead of ripping threw the bush wherever u like.?

 

[pete165]

I definately agree . Both are crazy. Just glad both survived.

 

[nuggetino]

Perhaps both landed on their heads and were saved by the extra padding.