Five people were trapped roughly 200 feet below ground after an elevator at a tourist cave in Arizona failed Sunday.
The tourists were rescued beginning around 4:00 p.m. Monday after being stuck since Sunday morning, according to ABC 15. The tourists went into the cave for a 30-minute tour when the elevator broke. It is unclear how the tourists were rescued Monday evening, but a search and rescue team was on-site and prepared to hoist them to safety.
#BREAKING: A group of five people has been stuck 20 stories under ground at the Grand Canyon Caverns for more than 28 hours after an elevator broke. A family member says they are beginning a rescue operation right now. #abc15 https://t.co/BKitaUoq2p
— ABC15 Arizona (@abc15) October 24, 2022
The caverns have a set of steps that lead to safety but are difficult to climb, ABC 15 reported. Some of the tourists who were originally trapped took the steps to safety. Out of the five tourists trapped, at least two are in their 70s and were unable to walk up the 20 stories of steps. (RELATED: 5 Men Trapped Inside Virginia Cave)
One woman was able to climb the 20 stories of steps with her five-month-old and two-year-old daughters, ABC 15 reported. The group was reportedly given food and water.
Grand Canyon Caverns operates a hotel room and restaurant within the cavern where the tourists were trapped, according to the group’s website.
The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office provided the Daily Caller with a media release from the incident.
The trapped tourists were rescued using a technical rope rescue where rescuers lifted each individual to the surface. The effort took approximately 15 minutes per person and everyone was rescued by 6:00 p.m. on Monday.