Man Falls Down Mine Shaft, Kills 3 Rattlesnakes To Survive 2 Days

AGUILA, AZ — Rescuers saved the life of an Arizona man who fell down a mine shaft and had to survive for two days without food or water — even killing three rattlesnakes to stay alive. Authorities say the man fell into the 100-foot deep mine shaft Monday. A spokesman for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office tweeted that the man, who is in his 60s, was found by a good Samaritan on Wednesday. At the time, he was "alert and talking," tweeted Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez.

Search and rescue teams were brought in and a medic was lowered into the shaft, located about 70 miles northeast of Phoenix near Eagle Eye Road and Mile Post 13 in Aguila. Once the man was pulled out, emergency responders airlifted him to a hospital with injuries. He is expected to survive, Enriquez said.

Authorities didn't immediately identify the man or elaborate on how he fell, but news outlets say his name is John Waddell, a 62-year-old man who lived in the area.

Terry Schrader told KSAZ-TV that he's a friend of Waddell and that he was the one who found him.

“He called me Monday and told me he was coming to the mine," he told KNXV-TV. "And we always had a deal, if he is not back by Tuesday [to come check on him].”

When his friend never returned, Schrader got into his truck and started driving. He heard screams for help as soon as he pulled up to the mine and told KNXV-TV Waddell's carabiner apparently broke. He fell up to 50 feet and became trapped, having to kill three rattlesnakes.

Multiple media outlets reported that Waddell had no food or water and broke multiple bones in his legs and knees.

A message left with a number listed for Waddell wasn't immediately returned.

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