Truck driver who leapt into mine shaft at the bottom of Arizona's meteor crater to 'appease gods' is rescued

Employee watches as man scales fence and jumps



Broke arm and leg in 100-foot fall



More than 30 rescue personnel responded







A California truck driver rescued early Friday from the bottom of a mine shaft in northern Arizona's Meteor Crater reportedly jumped in to 'appease the gods,' authorities said.

Coconino County sheriff's officials said Parminder Singh told deputies after the eight-hour rescue in freezing temperatures that he intentionally jumped into the shaft, which is 100 feet deep and closed to the public.

The mine shaft was located at the floor of the crater, which is 4000 feet wide and and about 570 feet deep, and created about 50,000 years ago.



A California man rescued early Friday from the bottom of a mine shaft in northern Arizona's Meteor Crater reportedly jumped in to 'appease the gods' A hospital spokeswoman said Singh was not in any condition to speak to reporters and she would not disclose what injuries he suffered The mine shaft was located at the floor of the crater, which is 4000 feet wide and and about 570 feet deep and created about 50,000 years ago

Singh, 28, of Union City, was reported to be in fair condition at Flagstaff Medical Center.

A hospital spokeswoman said Singh was not in any condition to speak to reporters and she would not disclose what injuries he suffered.

Sheriff's spokesman Gerry Blair said deputies believe Singh had 'a broken arm and a broken leg and some abrasions.'

Blair said it was still unclear if Singh came all the way from California just to jump into the vertical mine shaft.

The Arizona Daily Sun reported Friday night that investigators believe Singh is a semi-truck driver because his 18-wheeler was later found in a parking lot near the crater, which is a tourist attraction 35 miles east of Flagstaff and also used as a research laboratory.

Sheriff's spokesman Gerry Blair said deputies believe Singh had 'a broken arm and a broken leg and some abrasions

Deputies said that during an interview with investigators after the rescue, Singh told them he intentionally jumped into the shaft to 'appease the gods.'

Blair said Singh didn't elaborate. He said "it remains to be seen" whether Singh would face trespassing or other charges.

More than 30 rescuers had to battle freezing temperatures, high winds and rough terrain to save the man

An employee at the privately owned impact site called the sheriff's office about 4 p.m. Thursday to report a man trespassing at the bottom of the crater

He then told authorities that he watched through binoculars as the man jumped feet first into the mine shaft, which is surrounded by a 7-foot-high fence topped with barbed wire It took hours for rescuers to get to the opening of the mine shaft

Meteor Crater was created by an asteroid about 50,000 years ago. It is nearly 1 mile across, 2.4 miles in circumference and about 600 feet deep.

An employee at the privately owned impact site called the sheriff's office about 4 p.m. Thursday to report a man trespassing at the bottom of the crater.

They called out to Singh about 8:20 p.m. and got a faint reply, indicating he was still alive

He then told authorities that he watched through binoculars as the man jumped feet first into the mine shaft, which is surrounded by a 7-foot-high fence topped with barbed wire.

It took hours for rescuers to get to the opening of the mine shaft, and they were battling 20-degree temperatures with a wind chill factor below zero.

They called out to Singh about 8:20 p.m. and got a faint reply, indicating he was still alive.

Officials said Singh fell a distance of more than 100 feet to the bottom of the shaft after he jumped

Sheriff's officials said rescuers lowered food, water, warm clothing, a flashlight and a portable radio to Singh so they could communicate with him.

A member of the Flagstaff Fire Department's technical rescue team was lowered into the shaft to provide initial treatment to Singh, who they said had severe hypothermia.

Singh was carried up the 600-foot crater incline and then more than a mile to the visitor center's parking lot before he was transported to a hospital.