Firefighters Rescue 2 Boys From Old Mine Pit
VIRGINIA, Minn. (AP) -- Firefighters rescued two boys from the steep sides of an old mine pit on the Iron range.
The Mesabi Daily News of Virginia reports the 12-year-old and 15-year-old were not injured. But Assistant Fire Chief Buddy Mell says it took at least eight Virginia firefighters two hours to climb down steep sides of the water-filled Rouchleau Pit and then to bring them up with ropes and harnesses.
Mell says five boys were climbing around the pit Saturday afternoon when two apparently tried to go swimming there. The pit has sides slanting almost 60 degrees.
The two boys climbed down, and then one slid further and couldn't climb back up. The second couldn't climb out either. One of their friends called for help on a cell phone.
(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
