BY ANNIE HOLLER
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
LOVELY — Rescuers brought Joey Stevens out of the abandoned Winco Mine on Sunday evening after his 14-year-old stepdaughter crawled through a narrow gap between fallen rocks and escaped to call for help.
Stevens, 30, of Lovely, and the girl had been trapped underground since about 2 a.m. after entering the old mine in the Long Branch area in Lovely during a night of coon hunting.
Martin County Sheriff John Kirk confirmed earlier Sunday that both had been inside the mine.
The girl squeezed between fallen rocks and emerged through a different mine opening Sunday evening. She then called her mother and reported that Stevens remained trapped underground, alive but growing weaker.
Stevens, a coal miner, could not fit through the same narrow passage. He has Type 1 diabetes.
The girl was also weak after escaping. Officials pinged her cellphone as rescuers worked to locate her and identify the opening where she had emerged.
Crews hoped the girl’s escape route would provide another way into the mine and allow them to reach Stevens.
Rescuers later entered the mine and brought Stevens safely to the surface. His condition was not immediately available.
Rescuers were also able to locate Stevens’ dog alive inside the mine.
Stevens and the girl were reported missing Sunday after they failed to return from the hunting trip.
Searchers found Stevens’ ATV at the entrance to the old mine works and discovered footprints leading underground, Kirk said. They found no footprints leading back out.
The discovery prompted officials to contact the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration office in Pikeville and request a specially trained mine rescue team.
The Winco Mine has been abandoned since the 1940s, and its age and deteriorated condition made entering it especially dangerous.
“With the age of these mine works and not knowing what the condition is inside, it is unsafe for anyone to enter until MSHA arrives and assesses the situation,” Kirk said earlier Sunday. “Their mine rescue teams are specially trained for these types of rescues, but even with that being said, they’re still entering the unknown.”
Martin County Emergency Management, local volunteer fire departments and law enforcement officers responded to the scene.
Kirk had asked the public to pray for Stevens, the girl and the rescuers as the operation unfolded.
“I’m asking everyone who will to pray for the safety of the man and juvenile who are missing, as well as all rescuers who will be searching,” he said.
Original story: Breaking: Man, 14-year-old possibly trapped in old coal mine