2 rescued from mine shaft after rattlesnake encounter

Two people were briefly trapped in a mine shaft near Lake Mead late Friday morning by a rattlesnake blocking their path. They were safely out of the shaft less than two hours after calling for help.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area officials got a call about 10:35 a.m. for a man and a boy who were unable to exit a mine shaft near Ore Car Mine off of Northshore Road.

About noon, responders outside the shaft spoke with the two, who said a rattlesnake was in their path, according to a news release from Lake Mead NRA. The two apparently had water and protein bars with them.

The agency tweeted about 12:20 p.m. the man and boy were out and safe.

The 2-foot-long snake was on the floor against a wall of the mine shaft, which is 4 to 5 feet wide, National Park Service spokeswoman Christie Vanover said.

First responders told the man and the boy to exit by walking near the opposite wall, Vanover said, and the snake — which wasn’t acting aggressive or rattling its tail — didn’t have to be moved.

Rattlesnakes aren’t rare in the desert, but sightings by visitors are, Vanover said.

The call drew a heavy initial response, with park rangers, a heavy rescue unit from Henderson, Metro’s Search and Rescue team and the Bureau of Land Management asked to come to the scene. But some of those units were quickly called off.

Vanover said the first responders ensured that a more dire situation could have been handled.

Review-Journal writer Ricardo Torres contributed to this story.

Contact reporter Cassandra Taloma at ctaloma@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @CassandraTaloma